World’s stealthiest strategic bomber ‘ideal option’ for Australia

America’s new B-21 bomber would be ‘very important’ for Australia given the pace of China’s weapons build-up, a military expert says.

The B-21, designed by Northrop Grumman, is the world’s stealthiest strategic bomber.

America’s new B-21 stealth bomber would be a “very important” capability for Australia given the pace of China’s military build-up, according to the head of one of US’s most prestigious military think tanks.

Douglas Birkey, head of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies in Washington, says Australia’s proximity to China and the deteriorating strategic environment made the B-21 an ideal option for the RAAF.

“Given the build-up that China is pursuing, the B-21 is a very important capacity to bring to the table,” Mr Birkey told The Weekend Australian.

“It comes down to what are the policy options the Australian government wants. The B-21 is the first combat aircraft of the smartphone era so it is fully designed for the connectivity of combat.”

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) holds a missile fire drill in the Taiwan Strait. Picture: Supplied

The B-21, designed by Northrop Grumman, is the world’s stealthiest strategic bomber and was unveiled in a gala launch in Palmdale, California, last week.

Defence Minister Richard Marles has said the bomber’s capabilities will be studied by defence officials in Canberra to see whether it would suit the nation’s defence force, which has not had a long-range bomber since the retirement of the F-111 in 2010.

The question of Australia potentially buying the B-21 was not discussed at this week’s AUSMIN meeting in Washington, with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin saying it was too early to discuss the possible export of the plane.

“We did not discuss the sale of the B21 to Australia, I’d like to get the first B21 tested and fully outfitted before we have those kinds of discussions,” Mr Austin said.

The so-called B-21 Raider has been developed amid the tightest secrecy with its batwing shape and advanced sensors making it almost impossible to detect by enemy radar. It is said to have the range to be able to bomb any target around the world on a single mission.

“Given the threat environment in the Pacific, the B-21 has obviously got the range,” said Mr Birkey, who attended last week’s launch of the bomber.

“It also has the ability to understand the battle space, connect to other assets and then the notion of having multiple effects, not just kinetic, such as blowing things up, but also electronic warfare and so on. These are all areas where the B-21 is very strong.”

US and Australian warships in formation during military exercises. Picture: Supplied

He said that Australia and the US would be “joined at the hip” in any conflict involving China in the Pacific and that Australia also having the B-21 would be a huge asset to both countries.

“It is a very, very important asset and if allies like Australia have this capacity in theatre, it will be crucial,’ he said.

If Australia purchased the B-21 it would be likely to buy 12 of them at an estimated cost of $20bn.

Marcus Hellyer, senior strategic analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, says buying the B-21 would reduce the pressure on the nuclear submarine program to rush the process of acquiring nuclear subs.

“The advantages are that the B-21 would be a gap filler, and it sort of derisks the submarine transition and it allows you to get the transition right rather than rushing two nuclear boats to sea early,’ he told The Weekend Australian

Mr Hellyer said the B-21 could operate from Australian bases and penetrate “deep into the Indo-­Pacific” without refuelling.

“If there were any Chinese threats to Australia coming through the archipelago, the South Pacific, it could reach out and address those threats,’ he said.