On Wednesday, May 22, the US Air Force released the first flight photo of the latest nuclear stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider. Defense officials had confirmed earlier that this state-of-the-art bomber had taken to the skies in California. The Air Force stated that the B-21 is designed specifically to operate in future high-end threat environments and will play a crucial role in ensuring enduring US air power.
According to a press release issued by the US Air Force on Wednesday, following its official debut on December 2, 2022, the B-21 Raider began conducting flight tests at Edwards Air Force Base, continuing its progress towards becoming a key asset in the Air Force bomber fleet.
Earlier this month, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition Andrew Hunter testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee, stating that the flight test program is progressing smoothly, following the designed objectives very effectively to understand the unique features of this platform. He mentioned that the B-21 is scheduled for delivery to operational personnel on May 8.
Hunter explained that the B-21 is the first highly digitized aircraft to be developed.
The Air Force press release described the B-21 as a long-range, highly survivable, and penetrating stealth attack bomber that will gradually replace the B-1 and B-2 bombers, playing a significant role in supporting national security goals and ensuring the safety of US global allies and partners.
The B-21 weapon system is manufactured under a contract between the Air Force and Northrop Grumman. It features an open systems architecture design that allows for rapid integration of mature technologies, ensuring the aircraft remains effective as threats evolve over time. The B-21 is expected to be operational by the mid-2020s, with a production target of at least 100 aircraft.
The Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (AFRCO) is responsible for managing the procurement program, with a focus on making the test aircraft as representative of production as possible. The test aircraft are built on the same production line and utilize the same personnel and tools as the final production aircraft.
According to AFRCO’s strategy, the B-21 test aircraft is not following the traditional flight prototype approach but is being constructed using manufacturing processes and tools identical to those used for the production aircraft, including mission systems. This development method lays the foundation for quicker production initiation.
Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota will be the first primary operational base and formal training location for the B-21. Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and Dyess Air Force Base in Texas are the preferred locations for the remaining bases.