Submitted Art This is an artist rendering of a B-21 Raider concept in a hangar at Dyess Air Force Base. Dyess Air Force Base is one of the bases expected to host the new bomber. Photo from Northrop Grumman.

The Air Force continues its plans for two next generation weapons systems – the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent to replace the nation’s Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system and the new B-21 Raider bomber program.

Minot Air Force Base is the only dual wing, nuclear-capable base with Minuteman III ICBMs in the Minot missile field and B-52 bombers.

Malmstrom AFB, Mont., and F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., also have Minuteman III ICBMs. Barksdale AFB, La., also has B-52 bombers.

The B-21 Raider is the Air Force’s first new bomber in more than 30 years when the B-2A Spirit was unveiled. It is named after “Doolittle’s Raiders” the B-25 Mitchell bombers that bombed Tokyo in 1942.

Linda Frost, deputy for Media Operations at Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., provided the following update about the GBSD program and the B-21:

New missile system

Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) will replace the Minuteman III ICBM with an initial capability of 2029. Until full capability is achieved in the mid-2030s, we must take actions to ensure Minuteman III remains a viable deterrent.

GBSD is not just a new missile but optimal, fully integrated launch, flight and infrastructure systems with modern command and control features. Life extensions on the Minuteman III will cost more than a full system replacement, and would not address warfighting capability gaps. GBSD is an affordable strategic system. There is a great opportunity to lower lifecycle costs beyond current estimates through implementation of modern designs and more efficient operations, maintenance and security concepts.

GBSD will use refurbished existing MM III infrastructure (e.g., Launch Control Centers, support infrastructure) based on military utility and lifecycle cost savings.

The GBSD program is fully funded at $8 billion for FY19-23.

Here’s the Development Timeline:

– Office of Secretary of Defense/Acquisition, Technology and Logistics approved the GBSD Acquisition Strategy in July 2016.

– Milestone A was achieved on Aug. 23, 2016.

– Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) contracts were awarded on Aug. 21, 2017.

– Milestone B is projected for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020. This will represent the completion of technology maturation and risk reduction activities and initiates the engineering and manufacturing development phase

Bombers of the future

The Air Force is committed to the bombers of the future – the B-21 and the B-52H to meet the changing needs of national security. In order to keep the B-52H in the fight through 2050, we have been investing in multiple improvements to ensure continued readiness in today’s combat environment.

Final retirement of the B-1B and B-2 is conditionally based on the delivery of operational B-21s and should permit a limited number of overlap.

The B-21 is being designed based on firm requirements with existing and mature technology balanced with affordability to allow for future adaptable capabilities. Lessons learned from previous programs were used and all elements of life cycle costs were considered for affordability. The acquisition strategy incentivizes industry partners to achieve cost, schedule and performance objectives.

The Air Force is committed to building a minimum of 100 B-21s with an average cost per aircraft of $550 million in 2010 dollars or about $639 million in 2019 dollars. Initial capability to be fielded in mid-2020s; nuclear certification within two years of initial operating capability (IOC). Air Force Global Strike Command will determine IOC.

The B-21 program is executing in Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase. The weapon-system Critical Design Review (CDR) event was successfully completed Nov. 28-30 2018. The first software build that represents basic capabilities and has already begun the process for the second and third builds. B-21 is using “Agile” software development tools and methodology to accomplish weapon system software development, integration, and testing. The program is continually assessing internal and external agile development methodologies to identify new tools and best practices to improve the software development pipeline.

The Secretary of the Air Force announced on March 27, 2019, that the preferred main operating base locations are Ellsworth AFB, S.D., Whiteman AFB, Mo., and Dyess AFB, Texas. This basing decision minimizes impact to operations and communities, maximizes re-use of existing infrastructure, and minimizes cost to base B-21s. The final basing decision is expected in 2021, following compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other regulatory and planning processes.