Australia hints at possibly purchasing the B-21 Raider stealth bomber

CGI of the B-21 Raider bomber. Photo c/o Northrop Grumman.

Australian Defence Minister Hon. Richard Marles has made a strong hint that Australia might consider purchasing the Northrop Grumman B-21 Spirit stealth bomber.

This was made during an interview with The Australia on 26 August 2022 as Min. Marles discussed about the future of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

He said the B-21 Raider, which is still in development for the US Air Force, was being examined to fill-in requirements for a new long range strike capability.

Just days before, US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall mentioned about willingness by the US Government to discuss with its Australian counterparts regarding interests and willingness to help on it.

There were previous recommendations from Australian defense experts on the potential consideration of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber for RAAF’s long rate strike capabilities that were lost when the service retired its F-111C/G Aardvark strike aircraft fleet in 2010.

The US Government still have sole discretion to decide if it will allow allies like Australia to procure the B-21 Raider bomber, as indigenous unique high-technology defense systems are something the US military hopes to keep to themselves for fear of the technology being reverse engineered by other countries.

But the recently formed AUKUS alliance could be a deal-breaker as the US hopes to tap the United Kingdom and Australia to secure the Asia Pacific region as China increases its presence in the Western Pacific region.

The price of the B-21 Raider would also be a factor, although there are signs that development costs have been kept in acceptable levels, something that is rare in most new defense technology system developments the US undertook in the last few decades.

[1] The Australian

[2] Australian Aviation