New US B-21 stealth bomber heightens strike gap with China – but missiles may help close it
- America unveiled its first strategic bomber for three decades earlier this month as part of its efforts to address the strategic challenge posed by China
- According to one analyst, the B-21 will have a huge impact in the Asia-Pacific region as the US no longer needs bases close to Taiwan to reach the island
America unveiled its first strategic bomber in more than three decades at an air force base in California earlier this month, after years of secret development.
Seen as part of the answer to rising concerns over a possible future conflict with China, the bomber “is proof of the [defence] department’s long-term commitment to building advanced capabilities that will fortify America’s ability to deter aggression, today and into the future”, according to US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
The B-21, which has a similar appearance to its flat-winged predecessor the B-2 Spirit, appears to be smaller – judging from the size of its landing gear.
The US did not disclose specifications of the plane, and the dramatic fashion in which it was unveiled – backlit by blue light that kept many parts of the bomber hidden in shadow – avoided giving away too many clues about its specifications.
Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said: “The B-21 is 21st century in every sense, with superior stealth, avionics, sensors and propulsion. It’s based around open architecture, so … it can be easily upgraded both in terms of software and hardware.
“Yes, it is a bit smaller, but remember that the weapons technology has also moved on from the late 1980s, and what matters most is an ability to penetrate Chinese and Russian anti-access and area denial networks without being detected to launch more advanced weapons that are now available.”
B-21 bomber to enable quick US response but can’t elude PLA: analysts
Timothy Heath, a senior analyst from the US think tank Rand Corporation, said the advanced sixth-generation stealth bomber would exert a huge impact on the Asia-Pacific region.
“The B-21 will provide the United States greater flexibility in responding to combat contingencies in the Asia-Pacific. The US no longer requires a base close to Taiwan, for example, in order to fly bombers to support a contingency near the island,” Heath said.
“The B-21 will also be able to carry out intelligence collection, reconnaissance, and surveillance missions, as well as aid in coordination of operations with other aircraft. This makes the B-21 a versatile and valuable platform and should help bolster US deterrence in the theatre.”
Tensions between China and the US remain high, with the latest source of friction coming from a White House announcement that it had approved a new batch of arms sales to Taiwan.
Beijing has also been modernising its own military and has called for an increased war preparedness in case of conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
No information about the H-20 is available, but the Pentagon has estimated that it will have a “cruising distance of more than 8,500km (5,300 miles)”.
Davis added: “Clearly the Chinese will have watched the B-21 reveal very closely and may try to incorporate design principles into the H-20 or at least subsequent versions of it. It’s always a competition.”
Heath said Chinese missiles could address the strike gap to some degree.
B-2 bomber’s missile upgrade ‘could threaten’ PLA warships: military analyst
“China does have many long-range missiles, such as the DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missiles, which can provide a similar long-range strike mission that is hard to shoot down,” Heath said.
Despite the advanced capabilities of the B-21, Heath said its high price was one disadvantage.
“Like all advanced aircraft, one drawback will be the high price tag, which limits how many can be built.”
