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The Air Force announced Thursday that the second B-21 Raider bomber was the first flight in California – a milestone official said testing of the first new long-range bombers in the United States will be accelerated.
“With the arrival of a second B-21 Raider, our flight test sport gained momentum,” Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said in a statement, adding that the service can now begin integrating weapons and mission systems into bombers. So far, flight testing has been limited primarily to performance checks.
The B-21, built by Northrop Grumman, is the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft and will be able to carry nuclear and conventional weapons. Its stealth design is designed to penetrate deeper into enemy territory and prevent increasingly advanced air defenses adopted by China, Russia and other opponents.
The new bomber follows the lineage of the Cold War-era B-52 Stratoforts, Supersonic B-1 Lancer and Radar Resilient B-2 Spirit.
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The second B-21 Raider bomber made its first flight in California. (air force)
With the B-2, the price per aircraft is about $2 billion, and ultimately limited to 21 fleets, the B-21 is less expensive, with a lower price of about $800 million per aircraft, and has an open system architecture for easier technology upgrades.
The still-in-service B-2 recently launched a combat mission during a strike at an Iranian nuclear site in June.
Air Force leaders said the service plans to purchase at least 100 B-21s, which will operate with 76 modern B-52J Strat fratortresss and be well in the future. Together, the two aircraft will form the backbone of U.S. bombers, providing long-distance strikes and nuclear deterrence capabilities as part of the U.S. Nuclear Triad.
The program has been closely watched in Washington after huge delays and cost overruns in past aircraft plans such as F-35 fighters and KC-46 tankers.
“With the arrival of a second B-21 Raider, our flight test sport gained momentum,” Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said in a statement. (air force)
Officials kept most details about the B-21 classification, including a timeline to reach initial operational capabilities, although the Air Force said it wanted bombers to enter service in the early 2030s.
Air Force Chief of Staff David Allvin said adding a second test aircraft is a positive step towards that goal. “Adding a second B-21 to the flight test program, accelerating the road to field combat,” Allvin said. “By having more assets in the test environment, we bring this capability to the fighters faster, which shows the urgency we need to deal with modernization.”
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The B-21, built by Northrop Grumman, is the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft. (air force)
The B-21 program began in the early 2010s, which was then called the “Long-range Strike Bomber Initiative” and Pentagon leaders described it as maintaining U.S. military superiority.
Officials say the plane’s range and stealth will provide commanders with more options, with long-range and Chinese missile threat challenging traditional forward bases in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Air Force said Thursday that the B-21 was recently flying near Edwards Air Force Base. (air force)
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Northrop Grumman leads the program across a network of suppliers across the country, supporting thousands of jobs. The company made its first public disclosure of aircraft at its Palmdale facility in California in December 2022, although most of its functions remain highly classified. Only a few images have been released showing the stylish flying wing design, reminiscent of the B-2, but using newer materials and engineering designs.
As testing expands, the Pentagon hopes to avoid delays and deliver bombers on time and on budget. Officials stressed that the B-21 would provide the United States with a critical advantage over decades within the traditional strike mission and nuclear deterrence.
