Since the United States Air Force and the manufacturer Northrop Grumman They presented the successor to the stealth bomber B-2 Spirit almost four years ago, there has been a lot of talk about its size. From a bomber It is expected to be much larger than a fighterbut in the published images it didn’t seem like it so muchwhich has given rise in this time to numerous unverified statements about how ‘tiny’ he wassomething that has not been helped by the fact that its true dimensions have not been revealed.
Now, an image of the B-21 Raider has arrived for the first time Google Earth and the specialized defense media The War Zone, with measurement tools integrated into the Googlehas been able to estimate its wingspan and length with a margin of error of approximately one meter. And no, it’s not that small, only 12% less than the B-2 Spirit, both lengthwise and widthwise.
The photograph is dated June 20, 2026 and shows the bomber taxiing between the runways of the Edwards Air Force Basein California. It is not the first satellite image of the plane, but yes with public access on Google Earth and enough resolution to measure it.
Calculations place the B-21 Raider at 46.3 meters in wingspan and 18.6 meters in lengthcompared to approximately 52.4 and 21 meters from its predecessor. These are dimensions that refute the estimates that circulated on the internet attributing less than 40 meters from end to end, although they remain external measurements without official confirmation.
The comparison with a fighter F-15 It helps to understand how some photographs can be misleading. The bomber measures almost the same length as that plane19.4 meters, but has about three and a half times its wingspan13 meters, a difference that is best appreciated from above due to its flying wing design, without a conventional tail.
The smaller size answers, according to the TWZ analysis, to different priorities from those that marked the development of the B-2. In the Raider more importance would have been given within reach, contain costs and make detection more difficult than to transport an enormous amount of weapons.
The medium points to a optimized aerodynamics to fly at high altitude, more fuel in proportion to its size and two engines instead of four. This combination would allow travel long distances without refuelingalthough the range and payload capacity of the new bomber remain unknown officially.
What those responsible have confirmed is that It will carry two pilots and will be able to use conventional and nuclear weapons. Northrop Grumman highlights its technologies to reduce detectability, easier and cheaper maintenance than previous systems and an open architecture, designed to incorporate new capabilities and weapons in the future.
The new bomber will progressively replace both the B-2 Spirit and the B-1B Lancer. The Air Force maintains the objective of acquire at least 100 copies to renew its fleet of strategic bombers.
For now, the B-21 is still being tested and the official forecast is that the first devices will arrive at the base Ellsworthin South Dakota, in 2027. That delivery will be a step forward towards its entry into service, the exact date of which has not yet been announced.