The US Air Force wants to upgrade the B-21 Raider bomber before it even flies for the installation of LRSO nuclear missiles with a launch range of 2,400 km

The United States Air Force has requested funding to upgrade the B-21 Raider nuclear bomber. The request is included in the FY2024 research and development budget justification.

Here's What We Know

The project is designated as "Long Range Strike Bomber (B-21) Modernization." The document states that the upgrade will include, but not be limited to, the integration of Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) nuclear missiles. The LRSO is expected to be operational by the end of this decade.

Information about the prospective nuclear missile is almost non-existent so far. The US Air Force has asked for nearly $1 billion to develop LRSO. The new missile will replace the obsolete AGM-86B Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) and will have a launch range of 2,400 km.

The request for funding to upgrade the B-21 Raider even before its maiden flight does not reflect the poor state of the nuclear bomber development programme. The strategic aviation aircraft was originally designed to be susceptible to upgrades.

The B-21 Raider was unveiled in December 2022. The nuclear-powered bomber is expected to be able to make its first flight by the end of 2023. Although it has recently been revealed that the first flight has been postponed by several months.