The U.S. Air Force’s B-21 Raider program, a hallmark in modern stealth bomber design, continues to make significant strides in both flight testing and production phases. Unveiled in December 2022, the B-21 Raider has been under rigorous flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base and is on course to become the backbone of the U.S. Air Force bomber fleet.
Recent developments were highlighted during a May 8, 2024 testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Andrew Hunter, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, reaffirmed that “the flight test program is proceeding well. It is doing what flight test programs are designed to do, which is helping us learn about the unique characteristics of this platform, but in a very, very effective way.” Hunter emphasized the aircraft’s digital integration, noting that it is the first Air Force aircraft to be “more digital than not.”
The testing phase includes comprehensive ground operations, taxiing, and multiple sorties, with the aircraft’s performance closely mirroring its simulation models. Northrop Grumman, the manufacturer, confirmed that “CTF test pilots indicate the jet is performing as expected with the aircraft flying like the simulator, reflecting the precision of the digital environment on B-21.”
As of January 2024, Northrop Grumman reported six B-21 bombers in various stages of final assembly and testing at their Palmdale, California facility. This approach allows the test aircraft to be as production-representative as possible, using the same manufacturing processes and tooling intended for full production, thereby speeding up the transition to an operational fleet.
Newly released high-altitude images of the B-21 in flight underline its advanced stealth capabilities and design subtleties. The images, taken on multiple dates between January and May 2024, reveal refined elements such as a narrow 2-D exhaust embedded in the jet’s tail, pop-up navigation lights, and an auxiliary air inlet opened above the engines. These features, designed to optimize the aircraft’s low observability and radar evasion, show significant advancements from its predecessor, the B-2 Spirit.
The B-21 Raider, a long-range, highly survivable, penetrating strike stealth bomber, is set to replace the aging fleets of B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers. With an open systems architecture for rapid technology integration, the B-21 will remain effective as threats evolve over time. The Air Force aims for the B-21 to enter full operational status by the mid-2020s, with an initial production goal of at least 100 aircraft.
Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota has been designated as the first main operating facility for the B-21, with Whiteman AFB in Missouri and Dyess AFB in Texas selected as preferred locations for subsequent deployments. Each of these bases will receive aircraft as they become available, supporting national security objectives and assuring U.S. allies across the globe.
Northrop Grumman’s low-rate initial production contract, awarded in December 2023, solidifies this production strategy, despite the company’s acknowledgment that it will not profit from the first five lots due to inflation and escalated labor costs.
Relevant articles:
– B-21 Flight Testing, Production ‘Continues to Make Progress,’ Air Force Says , FLYING, 05/24/2024
– B-21 Raider continues flight test, production, Edwards Air Force Base, 05/22/2024
– U.S. Air Force Releases High-Altitude Images of B-21 Raider in Flight Testing, Atlas News, 05/23/2024
– What the Air Force’s New B-21 Photos Show About the Raider, Air & Space Forces Magazine, 05/22/2024
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