The US Air Force was considering the joint use of B-21 Raider nuclear bombers and guided drones

The US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, during a congressional hearing, announced plans to increase the production of nuclear bombers. He also talked about the idea of using strategic aircraft together with unmanned aerial vehicles.

Here's What We Know

The US Air Force spokesman said he had been considering the idea of using guided drones with the next-generation B-21 Raider nuclear bomber for some time. The drones could escort the aircraft deep into enemy airspace. At this stage in the development of both programmes, however, the idea looks unfeasible.

The B-21 Raider is still awaiting its debut flight, while Northrop Grumman hopes to receive its first contract by the end of 2023. The aircraft could go airborne in the middle of this year, but that is not a requirement.

On the other hand, the US Air Force has not yet fully developed the concept of joint-use drones. They are being developed under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme. We recently learned that the drones will be equipped with secret air-to-air missiles AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM).

The US Air Force has previously said it wants 1,000 drones for 500 fifth- and sixth-generation aircraft. But this is not an exact number. It is possible that the figures sent to the US Congress will not match what the service will eventually receive. But the key task now is to assess the need and determine infrastructure requirements.

What we do know is that CCA drones will be many times cheaper than fifth- and sixth-generation fighters. The price of one F-35 Lithning II from batch #14 was $78 million, not including the cost of the F135 engine.

Source: Air & Space Forces Magazine