ChatGPT said:
Here's a B-21 Raider vs. B-2 Spirit comparison across design, technology, cost, and mission capability:
? Design & Stealth
| Feature | B-2 Spirit (1997) | B-21 Raider (Est. 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Flying wing | Flying wing |
| Stealth | Low-observable (1st gen) | Next-gen stealth (esp. low-band radar) |
| Materials | Composite stealth skin (complex) | Advanced radar-absorbent materials (easier to maintain) |
| Maintenance | High-maintenance surface coating | Designed for easier, lower-cost upkeep |
B-21 features “open architecture”, making it easier to upgrade with new tech, sensors, and weapons.
Avionics & Software
| Feature | B-2 | B-21 |
|---|---|---|
| Computing | 1980s tech (upgraded over time) | Digital-first; cloud-connected |
| Avionics | Closed systems | Modular open systems |
| Cyber Resilience | Limited | Designed-in cybersecurity |
| Automation | Manual-intensive | Greater autonomy, easier mission control |
B-21 can be crewed or optionally uncrewed in the future.
Weapons & Payload
| Feature | B-2 | B-21 |
|---|---|---|
| Payload | ~40,000 lbs | Estimated ~30,000–35,000 lbs |
| Nuclear Capable | Yes (B61, B83) | Yes (B61-12, LRSO) |
| Conventional | JDAM, JASSM, GBU-57 bunker buster | All above + next-gen stand-off weapons |
| Future Weapons | Limited upgrade path | Designed for hypersonic and future AI-enabled weapons |
B-21 will carry Long-Range Stand-Off (LRSO) missiles and possibly hypersonic weapons in the future.
? Range & Endurance
| Feature | B-2 | B-21 |
|---|---|---|
| Range | ~6,000 nm (without refuel) | Estimated +6,000–7,000 nm |
| Refueling | Yes (KC-135, KC-46) | Yes |
| Global Reach | Yes (round-the-world flights) | Yes with higher efficiency |
B-21 is smaller and more efficient, enabling longer loiter and deeper penetration with fewer tankers.
Cost & Production
| Feature | B-2 | B-21 |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Cost | ~$2.1B (adjusted for inflation) | Estimated ~$692M per unit |
| Built | 21 units | Target: 100–145 units |
| Support Cost | High; stealth skin maintenance | Lower; modular and scalable |
B-21 is designed for mass production, with easier logistics and lower cost per flight hour.
? Survivability & Modern Threats
| Feature | B-2 | B-21 |
|---|---|---|
| Air Defenses | Vulnerable to newer radars | Designed to defeat next-gen IADS |
| Counter-A2/AD | Limited by older systems | Built to survive in contested, denied environments |
B-21 is built to survive China's and Russia’s next-gen integrated air defenses.
Summary
| Category | Winner | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Stealth | B-21 | New materials, better shaping vs low-frequency radar |
| Technology | B-21 | Digital-first, modular, cyber-secure |
| Cost-efficiency | B-21 | Mass production, streamlined upkeep |
| Payload | B-2 | Heavier payload, larger airframe |
| Survivability | B-21 | Designed for 2030s threats |
| Production Scale | B-21 | Over 100 expected vs only 21 B-2s built |
