On August 7, 2024, a group of Australian defense experts and think tanks, including the Institute of Public Affairs and Strategic Analysis Australia, released a report titled “National Security and Australia’s Northern Defence.” The report aims to enhance Australia’s defense capabilities and proposes an alternative strategy known as “Plan B.” This strategy includes a recommendation for Australia to acquire the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, a sixth-generation aircraft currently in low-rate initial production in the United States.
The B-21 Raider is designed as a long-range strike platform, with the U.S. Air Force planning to acquire at least 100 units at an estimated cost of $750 million per aircraft. The report suggests that Australia should seek access to this aircraft and propose collaboration with the United States, including the operation of B-21s on rotation from Australian military facilities. This recommendation arises from concerns about potential delays in the development of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS agreement, which are projected to cost between $268 billion and $368 billion over their lifecycle and are not expected to be operational until the 2040s.