NEWNow you can hearken to Fox Information articles!
The Air Power’s super-secret B-21 Raider stealth bomber quietly made its first flight in California on Nov. 10, flying from the manufacturing facility to Edwards AFB at not rather more than tree-top stage.
Sure, proper earlier than China’s President Xi Jinping visited San Francisco. Impulsively China desires to begin talks on AI and nuclear weapons.
“The leaders affirmed the necessity to deal with the dangers of superior AI methods and enhance AI security by U.S.-China authorities talks,” the White Home said on Nov. 15 after President Biden met with Xi.
The B-21 has cloud expertise and an open structure for steady software program upgrades. (U.S. Air Power picture)
Little marvel, for the B-21 is stuffed with AI. It’s the one U.S. Air Power fight aircraft with the vary and stealth to chase China’s cell missiles and carry the deep penetrating weapons to hit underground bunkers if North Korea or Iran threatens nuclear mayhem.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND US NUCLEAR WEAPONS DECISIONS: HOW BIG A ROLE?
China has nothing like this bomber. The B-21 has cloud expertise and an open structure for steady software program upgrades. The B-21’s Pratt &Whitney engines generate loads of energy for onboard AI and digital assault.
The brand new bomber will take up its position within the nuclear deterrence triad within the 2030s, simply as China builds up its nuclear arsenal.
For the subsequent few months, the B-21 might be busy with child steps in its flight check program, like retracting the touchdown gear throughout flight. I imply, you possibly can see why they depart the gear down for very first flight. Why danger it.
Because the B-21 matures by flight exams, it’s going to transfer quickly towards fight functionality. Rumor has it the precise B-21 that flew not too long ago is nicknamed “Cerberus,” after the legendary three-headed hound of the underworld. (I consider it, as a result of the early B-2 bombers had pet names like Hearth and Ice, Penny the Pig, and Christine, after the haunted automotive from Stephen King’s novel.)
CHINA’S XI AND BIDEN COOK UP A GIANT ‘NOTHING BURGER’ WITH ALL THE FIXINGS
What’s sure is that this B-21 isn’t a kludged-together prototype. It’s a production-representative plane, and Northrop Grumman has at the least six extra B-21s in varied levels of meeting, heading for a complete manufacturing run of at the least 100 and doubtless extra.

The B-21 is a sixth-generation stealth plane, with a glossy design that foils radar detection. (U.S. Air Power)
The B-21 could possibly be prepared for operations in two or three years, with nuclear certification not far behind. Out within the fleet the AI prowess of the B-21 Raider will set a excessive bar.
And China is aware of it. Whereas China’s diplomats are dangling arms management talks, China’s fight pilots are urgent forward with AI.
“The pc can sum up all situational info and help navy personnel in making extra environment friendly and correct selections,” feminine Chinese language fighter pilot Zhang Xiao advised China’s state-run International Instances in March.
EXPERTS RAISE ALARM AFTER BIDEN STRIKES AGREEMENT WITH CHINA TO SHUT DOWN FOSSIL FUELS
China anticipates all weaponry might be linked by “a quick, secure and environment friendly communications community, and all of the huge information will probably be preprocessed, chosen and highlighted by synthetic intelligence earlier than being offered to human operators, so the latter could make the perfect selections for victory.”
Not so quick. The B-21 can preserve the higher hand. The B-21 is a sixth-generation stealth plane, with a glossy design that foils radar detection. It’s additionally the lead element of a brand new household of methods, together with weapons, drones and community capabilities, that can all incorporate AI.
Right here’s the place AI is available in. As enemy threats pop up, the B-21 may decide up an enemy radar scan sample, use AI algorithms to guage it, then go that information out to the pleasant battlespace community – all whereas routing the aircraft’s sensors and communications information across the jammers.

It’s potential the B-21 could someday fly and not using a crew. (U.S. Air Power picture)
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION
After all, jammers and digital warfare have been round for the reason that Vietnam period; what’s new is utilizing AI to course of indicators and information onboard the plane and in tune with a bigger community. Principally, you’ve a system that learns methods to combat again and get forward of enemy strikes throughout the fight mission. The entire discipline is named Cognitive Digital Warfare.
If you’re flying within the B-21 that’s actually good, as a result of it opens up rapid choices for dodging and weaving in your path to the goal. And perhaps for slinging countermeasures again on the adversary.
Highly effective AI additionally allows the B-21 to work together with unmanned drones or different plane within the battlespace community. That’s why AI onboard fight plane creates such an vital tactical offset to Chinese language or Russian defenses – or something Iran has cooked up.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
It’s potential the B-21 could someday fly and not using a crew. However for now, the profitable mixture might be two human pilots and all of the AI they will use.
So you possibly can see why China’s diplomats would love to speak us into stepping again from synthetic intelligence within the B-21 and different navy purposes. Fortuitously, the B-21 Raider will preserve America’s AI benefit for long-range airpower.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE REBECCA GRANT