What You Need to Know: The B-21 Raider bomber, seen as a crucial component in deterring China, is designed to penetrate advanced air defenses and strike key targets with both nuclear and conventional weapons.

-Senator Mike Rounds emphasized its role in deterring Chinese aggression, especially regarding Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific.

-With an operational range of over 6,000 miles and cutting-edge integration with intelligence and reconnaissance systems, the B-21 will replace aging bombers and act as an airborne data hub.

-Beyond China, the bomber may also serve as a deterrent against Russia, Iran, and North Korea, strengthening America’s strategic edge.

B-21 Raider: America’s New Bomber Aimed at Deterring China

Last year, a key U.S. senator who sits on the Senate Armed Service Committee has finally articulated what many defense analysts have already speculated on – that the new B-21 Raider bomber is being manufactured to someday take on China.

Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota said recently that the B-21 will play a critical role against China to ensure that its military would not attack Taiwan or bully U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific in any way.

“It is actually our China deterrence weapon,” Rounds told South Dakota State Public Broadcasting back in April of last year. “We have the ability to let China and others know that should they become belligerent that this particular platform can carry nuclear weapons. It can carry conventional weapons, as well,” Rounds said. “It can do so and penetrate their most advanced air protection systems—their air defense systems—and take out some of the most sensitive sights that they have if we perceive that they are going to be or are using them in an offensive capability.”

Telling It Like It Is on B-21 Raider Bomber

This is probably one of the most direct statements by civilian or military leadership about the role the B-21 would play in future conflict.

It is interesting that Rounds also mentioned “others” in his statement.

That likely means Russia or even Iran and North Korea could someday be deterred by the B-21 when it is deployed in squadrons. President Joe Biden has refrained from using U.S. personnel directly in Ukraine other than a handful of special operations forces who are providing advice and training.

So America is not engaging in direct war with Russia, but the Moscow’s nuclear arsenal is always a worry. Iran and North Korea are also mentioned as U.S. adversaries and those governments would be concerned about an intercontinental nuclear-equipped bomber like the B-21.

Raider Rules: Leader of the Stealth Bomber Pack

The B-21 is expected to carry nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles. The bomber’s range is over 6,000 miles with a top speed of around 600 miles per hour. The B-21 can also act as an “airborne data hub.” This will allow it to get its ordnance to the target quickly by integrating intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data from F-35s and other sources.

Designers want to make sure the B-21 is easy to maintain and can stay in the air for long periods, so older bombers in the U.S. Air Force fleet can be retired.  

The B-21 will be a significant asset for the U.S. military. China is concerned about its development – not to mention Russia, Iran, and North Korea. American adversaries will closely watch the events leading up to the deployment of new American weapons systems.

But according to political leaders and the B-21’s manufacturer, China is the main adversary that the bomber can help deter, especially when it comes to improving the American nuclear triad.

So, the B-21 is putting China on warning.

Author Expertise and Experience

Dr. Brent M. Eastwood is the author of Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare. He is an Emerging Threats expert and former U.S. Army Infantry officer. You can follow him on Twitter @BMEastwood. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and Foreign Policy/ International Relations.

All images are Creative Commons.