The US Air Force plans for its future nuclear forces face scrutiny. A recent report outlines procuring the B-21 bomber and Sentinel missile. However, a Chinese military expert questions the B-21's true capability on a recently broadcasted CCTV program.
The Department of the Air Force's 2050 vision requires the B-21 Raider stealth bomber. It also needs the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). These systems form the core of America's future nuclear "triad."
Unveiled in late 2022, the B-21 Raider is designed for advanced missions. Manufacturer Northrop Grumman states it can carry long-range conventional and nuclear weapons. It aims to be a visible, flexible part of the US nuclear arsenal.
America expects the B-21 to evade sophisticated air defenses using stealth. The goal is striking deep strategic targets with conventional or nuclear payloads. This capability is termed "penetrating air superiority."
The Sentinel ICBM is another key modernization piece, replacing the aging Minuteman III. Despite significant cost overruns, the Northrop Grumman project continues. Air Force leaders deem Sentinel vital for maintaining US nuclear deterrence.
However, Chinese military commentary suggests unease about the B-21's potential. Speaking on the "Weaponry Aspects" program on state broadcaster CCTV, expert Du Wenlong offered analysis.
Du described the B-21 as both America's "dream machine" and its "contradiction machine." The dream involves achieving penetrating strikes against modern defenses. Carrying nuclear weapons deep into enemy territory is seen as crucial.
Du noted Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall's long-standing focus on B-21 development. Yet, Du sees the bomber as potentially an "awkward machine." Many ambitious ideas for it may prove difficult to realize.
He controversially labeled the B-21 a "stripped-down version" of the earlier B-2 bomber. Its wingspan is only 80% of the B-2's size. Its weapon payload capacity is reportedly just 50% of its predecessor.
Du questioned if this smaller aircraft justifies its cost. Can it truly handle major responsibilities in the air-based nuclear force? He argued its ability to ensure global air or nuclear dominance is uncertain.
This places the B-21 in an "awkward" position, Du concluded. It faces significant question marks within the USAF and globally. It struggles to fit the role of a next-gen nuclear strike platform.
FULL TRANSCRIPT (Original + Translated)
Source: https://tv.cctv.com/2025/04/28/VIDET82y4NziYRALnnpoCrUh250428.shtml
2050年空军部报告中写道，美国空军将需要采购并维护B-21“突袭者”隐身轰炸机和“哨兵”洲际弹道导弹作为国家“三位一体”核力量的核心。
The Department of the Air Force 2050 report states that the U.S. Air Force will need to procure and maintain the B-21 Raider stealth bomber and the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile as the core of the nation's nuclear "triad"
Nuclear triad is a three-pronged military force structure of land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and strategic bombers with nuclear bombs and missiles.
B-21“突袭者”隐身轰炸机于2022年12月2日首次对外公开亮相。据B-21的制造商诺格公司官方网站介绍，B-21能够携带远程常规弹药与核弹药，将是美国“三位一体”核打击能力中可见的和灵活的组成部分。
美国期望B-21可以通过隐身能力突破对手的预警防空网，对敌方纵深地域的战略目标发起常规攻击或核轰炸，实现穿透性制空能力。
The B-21 "Raider" stealth bomber was first publicly unveiled on December 2, 2022. According to the official website of B-21 manufacturer Northrop Grumman, the B-21 can carry long-range conventional and nuclear munitions and will be a visible and flexible component of the U.S. nuclear "triad" strike capability.
The U.S. expects the B-21 to penetrate adversary early warning air defense networks with its stealth capabilities, launching conventional attacks or nuclear bombing against strategic targets deep within enemy territory, achieving penetrating air superiority capability.
作为美国核力量现代化项目的重要组成部分，LGM-35A“哨兵”洲际弹道导弹项目，虽然在研制过程中严重超支，但仍在继续推进中，该导弹同样由美国诺格公司负责研发，旨在更换“民兵”III洲际导弹。美国空军领导人认为，“哨兵”洲际弹道导弹对维持美国的核威慑至关重要。
As an important part of the U.S. nuclear modernization program, the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile project, despite significant cost overruns during development, is still advancing; the missile is also being developed by Northrop Grumman and aims to replace the LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental missile. U.S. Air Force leaders believe the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile is crucial for maintaining America's nuclear deterrence.
《兵器面面观》主持人周瑜：刚才的短片介绍了2050年空军部报告当中提及的美国下一代空基核威慑力量，那么我们先请杜先生来为我们分析一下B-21“突袭者”隐身轰炸机在美国“三位一体”的这种核体系当中到底承担了一个什么样的角色？
"Weaponry Aspects" Host Zhou Yu: The previous segment introduced the next-generation U.S. air-based nuclear deterrent forces mentioned in the Department of the Air Force 2050 report. Let's first ask Mr. Du to analyze for us what role the B-21 Raider stealth bomber actually plays in the U.S. nuclear "triad" system?
军事专家杜文龙：首先这款飞机是美国的“梦想之机”，但同时又是美国的“矛盾之机”，所以美国对这种飞机大概有两种看法。
第一种认为它可以实现美国梦想，穿透性的空袭行动，因为防空体系越来越严密，要想穿过对方的雷达体系，包括防空武器装备，把炸弹、导弹准确投到对方头上，现在看只是个梦想。
在今后“三位一体”核打击过程中，它将会携带着核武器，然后在对方头顶上炸开蘑菇云，所以这点对美国空军来讲至关重要。难怪弗兰克•肯德尔这么多年一直对B-21的发展提出了自己的一些想法。
Military Expert Du Wenlong: First, this aircraft is America's "dream machine," but at the same time, it is America's "contradiction machine," so the U.S. has roughly two views on this aircraft.
The first view is that it can realize America's dream of penetrating air strike operations. Because air defense systems are becoming increasingly stringent, wanting to penetrate the opponent's radar systems, including air defense weaponry, and accurately drop bombs and missiles on the opponent's head is currently just a dream.
In future "triad" nuclear strikes, it will carry nuclear weapons and then detonate mushroom clouds above the opponent's head, so this point is crucial for the U.S. Air Force. No wonder Frank Kendall has been putting forward some of his own ideas about the B-21's development for so many years.
军事专家杜文龙：另外从全球包括美国的希望来看，它又是“尴尬之机”，很多想法特别好，但是实现不了。
比如现在跟B-2相比，它就是B-2“乞丐版”，翼展只有b2的80%，载弹量只有B-2的50%，花了这么多钱，然后搞出一个不伦不类的小飞机，那么今后它在美国“三位一体”核打击，特别是空基这一级中能否承担大任，这是大问题。
所以总的感觉这架“乞丐版”的小飞机它能不能够承担美国期望的所谓全球空中霸权优势，全球空中核优势现在都存在着比较大的问号，所以B-21在美国空军，包括全球下一代空中核打击的平台过程中非常尴尬。
Military Expert Du Wenlong: Additionally, from the perspective of global hopes, including those of the U.S., it is also an "awkward machine"; many ideas are particularly good, but cannot be realized.
For example, compared to the B-2 now, it is a "stripped-down version" of the B-2. Its wingspan is only 80% of the B-2's, and its payload capacity is only 50% of the B-2's. Having spent so much money to create an nondescript small aircraft, whether it can undertake significant responsibilities in the future U.S. "triad" nuclear strike, especially in the air-based leg, is a big question.
So the overall feeling is that whether this "stripped-down version" small aircraft can bear the so-called global air supremacy advantage and global air nuclear advantage that the U.S. expects is now a big question mark. Therefore, the B-21 is very awkward within the U.S. Air Force and in the process of being a platform for the next generation of global air nuclear strikes.
《兵器面面观》主持人周瑜：所以说被称为六代机，只是一个口头上的称呼，而刚才您所提到的这种穿透性制空其实也是一个空中楼阁。
"Weaponry Aspects" Host Zhou Yu: So, being called a sixth-generation aircraft is just a verbal designation, and the penetrating air superiority you mentioned earlier is actually also a castle in the air.
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