Long Range Strike Bomber
| Long Range Strike Bomber | |
|---|---|
| The B-21 Raider was developed as a result of the program | |
| General information | |
| Project for | Strategic stealth bomber |
| Issued by | United States Air Force |
| Proposals | • Boeing/Lockheed Martin • Northrop Grumman |
| History | |
| Concluded | 27 October 2015 (contract awarded for development) |
| Outcome | Northrop Grumman selected to produce its entry as B-21 Raider |
| Related | 2037 bomber controversy |
| Predecessors | Next-Generation Bomber |
The Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) is a development and acquisition program to develop a long-range strategic bomber for the United States Air Force, intended to be a heavy-payload stealth aircraft that can deliver thermonuclear weapons. Initial capability is planned for the mid-2020s. A request for proposal to develop the aircraft was issued in July 2014. The Air Force plans to procure at least 100 and potentially up to 200 of the LRS-B aircraft for an estimated $550 million each (2010 dollars). A development contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman for its B-21 Raider in October 2015. Much about the project is highly classified and little information is available to the public. It is known that construction of the aircraft had begun by July 2019, and on December 2, 2022, it was unveiled to the public.