Skip to main content

Planey McPlaneface? The US Air Force wants the Internet to name its new stealth bomber

Leadership Short: Secretary of The Air Force - "A Bomber For The 21st Century"
The US Air Force is the newest military branch to let the Internet name its shiny new equipment. Since Britain’s possible christening of the RRS Boaty McBoatface obviously wasn’t enough of a warning, the Air Force is crowdsourcing the name of the United States’ newest stealth bomber to join the fleet. The B-21 bomber is being billed as the plane of America’s future, so at least the Air Force was wise enough to limit naming submissions to a select group of citizens.

The B-21 is “a bomber for the 21st century”, according to the US Air Force website. “It’s no longer enough for our bombers to fly further, drop more munitions or remain unseen. Our Airmen must answer new dangers with ingenuity and innovation.” So apparently, crowdsourcing the bomber’s name brings the Air Force to the cutting edge of innovation. Hopefully, “the Internet” will come up with a more convincing name than RRS Boaty McBoatface, which might soon be the official title of the British government research vessel named by the masses.

Recommended Videos

Only active duty service members in the Air Force, Reserves and National Guard members, retirees, and their families will be eligible to submit names for the new bomber. There is also a list of pretty strict rules limiting submissions, but there’s a fair amount of worry that someone will be crafty enough to come up with something heinous. As the guidelines state: “The entry must not contain material that is inappropriate, indecent, obscene, hateful, tortuous, defamatory, slanderous or libelous. The entry must not contain material that promotes bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age.” And of course, nothing illegal.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

All jokes aside, the noble mission of crowdsourcing the new bomber’s name has a lot to do with honoring active Airmen. “It’s important to allow our Airmen the opportunity to contribute to the identity of this new aircraft,” the Air Force said in a statement. “This event marks a significant milestone in bomber development, and will allow them to give the B-21 a name.”

That said, interested parties who are not associated with the US Air Force are encouraged to leave their suggestions in the comments section of the Air Force’s social media pages.

Chloe Olewitz
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Chloe is a writer from New York with a passion for technology, travel, and playing devil's advocate. You can find out more…
Hyundai Ioniq 5 sets world record for greatest altitude change
hyundai ioniq 5 world record altitude change mk02 detail kv

When the Guinness World Records (GWR) book was launched in 1955, the idea was to compile facts and figures that could finally settle often endless arguments in the U.K.’s many pubs.

It quickly evolved into a yearly compilation of world records, big and small, including last year's largest grilled cheese sandwich in the world.

Read more
Global EV sales expected to rise 30% in 2025, S&P Global says
ev sales up 30 percent 2025 byd sealion 7 1stbanner l

While trade wars, tariffs, and wavering subsidies are very much in the cards for the auto industry in 2025, global sales of electric vehicles (EVs) are still expected to rise substantially next year, according to S&P Global Mobility.

"2025 is shaping up to be ultra-challenging for the auto industry, as key regional demand factors limit demand potential and the new U.S. administration adds fresh uncertainty from day one," says Colin Couchman, executive director of global light vehicle forecasting for S&P Global Mobility.

Read more
Faraday Future could unveil lowest-priced EV yet at CES 2025
Faraday Future FF 91

Given existing tariffs and what’s in store from the Trump administration, you’d be forgiven for thinking the global race toward lower electric vehicle (EV) prices will not reach U.S. shores in 2025.

After all, Chinese manufacturers, who sell the least expensive EVs globally, have shelved plans to enter the U.S. market after 100% tariffs were imposed on China-made EVs in September.

Read more