B-2 Spirit Bomber vs B-21 Raider Bomber vs Xian H-20 Bomber

	B-2 Spirit Bomber B-21 Raider Bomber Xian H-20 Bomber

Price
Our Rating	8.8 9.4 9.2
Manufacturer	Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman Xian Aircraft Industrial Corporation
Category	Bombers & Strategic Aircraft Bombers & Strategic Aircraft Bombers & Strategic Aircraft

1. General Information

Name	B-2 Spirit B-21 Raider Xian H-20
Manufacturer	Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman Xian Aircraft Industrial Corporation
Country of Origin	United States United States China
Introduction / In Service Since	1997 Initial operational capability planned for 2028 Not yet in service
Status	Active In development, testing and production Under development
Category	Strategic Stealth Bomber Stealth strategic bomber Strategic Stealth Bomber
Crew	2 2 2
Unit Cost	Approx. $2.1 billion (2024 est.) Approx. $692 million APUC, FY2022 dollars $750 million–$1 billion (estimated)

2. Dimensions & Structure

Length	69 ft (21 m) Est. 52–55 ft (16–17 m) Approx. 20–25 m
Wingspan	172 ft (52.4 m) Est. 132–150+ ft (40–47 m) 45–50 m
Height	17 ft (5.1 m) Est. ~17–20 ft (5–6 m) 6 m (estimated)
Wing Area	5,140 sq ft (478 m²) Classified Classified
Empty Weight	158,000 lb (71,700 kg) Est. ~70,000 lb (31,750 kg) ~80,000 kg (estimated)
Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)	336,500 lb (152,200 kg) Est. ~180,000 lb (81,650 kg) ~200,000 kg (estimated)

3. Performance

Maximum Speed	628 mph (Mach 0.95) High subsonic (Mach 0.8+) Mach 0.95
Range	6,000+ nmi (11,000 km) Intercontinental (est. 6,000+ nm) 8,500 km
Combat Radius	2,500 nmi (4,600 km) Classified (long-range capable) 4,000+ km
Service Ceiling	50,000 ft (15,000 m) Est. ~50,000 ft (15,000 m) 15,000 m
Rate of Climb	Classified Classified Classified

4. Powerplant

Engine Type	4 × GE F118-GE-100 turbofans 2 × Pratt & Whitney non-afterburning turbofans (PW9000 family / F135-derived) 4 × WS-10 or WS-18 turbofans (expected)
Thrust (per engine)	17,300 lbf Est. ~20,000–27,000 lbf ~13,000–15,000 kgf
Total Thrust	69,200 lbf Est. ~40,000–54,000 lbf ~60,000 kgf

5. Payload & Armament

Internal Payload Capacity	40,000 lb (18,000 kg) Est. 20,000–30,000 lb 45,000 lb (20,400 kg)
Weapons Bay	Dual internal bays Internal (main bay; possible additional) Dual internal bays
Compatible Weapons	B61/B83 nuclear bombs, JDAMs, GBU-28 B61-12, AGM-181 LRSO, JDAM family, JASSM/JASSM-ER, other conventional & nuclear munitions Nuclear bombs, cruise missiles, precision-guided munitions
Hardpoints	None (internal only) Internal only (no external hardpoints for stealth) Internal only (stealth design)

6. Avionics & Systems

Radar System	AN/APQ-181 multi-mode radar Advanced AESA (details classified) AESA stealth radar
Navigation	GPS-aided INS Modern integrated suite (classified) Satellite + inertial navigation
Electronic Warfare (EW)	AN/ALQ-214 suite Advanced self-protection suite Integrated ECM/ECCM suite
Stealth Features	RAM coating, flying-wing design Flying-wing design, broadband all-aspect low observability, advanced materials Radar-absorbing materials, flying wing design, infrared suppression

7. Operational History

Primary Operator	United States Air Force United States Air Force (Global Strike Command) People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF)
Conflict Usage	Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya None (pre-operational) None (pre-operational)
Notable Missions	Operation Allied Force (1999) Flight testing (Edwards AFB); first flight Nov 2023 None yet reported

8. Additional Information

Variants	B-2A Spirit Single production variant planned None known
Successor / Future Replacement	B-21 Raider Intended to replace B-1 and B-2; complement B-52 Future heavy stealth bomber
Notable Features	Stealth coating, long-range endurance Open architecture, potential CCA control, optionally manned Long-range stealth strike, nuclear capability
Estimated Operational Life	Until 2035 Multi-decade (through mid-to-late 21st century) 30–40 years

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