Following the unveiling of the B-21 Raider;

Harry Boneham, Aerospace Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view on the potential of its use of next-generation radar absorbing technology:

“One of the key features, and best kept secrets, of the B-21 Raider programme has been the introduction of the next-generation of radar absorbing materials (RAM). These dramatically enhance the stealth capabilities of these aerial platforms. While all stealth platforms such as the F-35 rely upon designs that minimize radar returns (thus diminishing the aircraft’s radar signature), the B-2 and the B-21 go a step further and utilize materials that also absorb radar pings. This further diminishes radar returns and renders them extremely challenging to detect.

“The trade-off has historically been that RAM coatings are time consuming and extremely costly to maintain, thus limiting their widespread use. However, development executives have stated that the maintainability of the new coating system is a key feature of the B-21. This maintainability could be a factor explaining the faith the US Air Force has put in the B-21, committing to procure over 100 platforms and letting it comprise the backbone of its bombing fleet.

“In a future conflict, it will be necessary for aircraft to be rapidly serviced with short turnaround, and perhaps not in dedicated facilities. In conflicts against near-peer adversaries such as China, long-range stealth bombing will be an essential capability, and the fact that the Air Force feels confident that the B-21 can be kept at readiness to fulfil this capability alone speaks volumes to the advancements made in the B-21’s RAM coating.”