A fleet of 12 B-21 Raiders would cost Australia up to $28 billion, according to estimates from a leading think tank.
This article has been syndicated from Defence Connect’s sister brand Australian Aviation.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) said while the aircraft would come at a “great cost”, it has the advantage of being able to fire cheaper, short-range weapons.
The B-21 is the “sequel” to the UFO-like B-2 Spirit and is designed to silently strike deep behind enemy lines with its 9,500-kilometre range and advanced stealth capabilities.
There has been recent speculation the RAAF would look to purchase a fleet to give Australia a long-range strike ability that would act as a deterrence against any adversaries.