The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider represents the very latest in stealth technology, sure to be a game-changer for the U.S. Air Force’s strategic bomber fleet. As the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft, the B-21 now conducts extensive flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, reaching key milestones in its development.
The flight test campaign for the B-21 Raider is led by a Combined Test Force of Northrop Grumman and Air Force personnel. According to pilots who have flown the aircraft for testing, it performs as projected and has matched its digital twin’s performance. This is indicative of Northrop Grumman’s advanced digital engineering tools and pioneering Agile software development work that has reduced production risk and opened up new avenues for modern sustainment.
Andrew Hunter, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee. He said during testimony that the flight test program was going well and on pace to meet timelines. “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 said.
The B-21 features an open systems architecture that enables rapid upgrading and integration of new technologies. In this way, the aircraft will remain effective as the threats evolve with time. Attention to the production strategy has gone toward building test aircraft that are as production-representative as possible, using the same manufacturing processes and tooling that will go into production aircraft. The approach forms a smooth transition into full-scale production.
The Air Force plans to purchase at least 100 B-21 Raiders that are projected to replace the Air Force’s current B-1 and B-2 bombers. The aircraft is scheduled to enter service in the mid-2020s, with Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota selected as the first main operating base. Whiteman AFB, Missouri, and Dyess AFB, Texas, will also receive the aircraft as they become available.
The B-21 Raider is more than a technological marvel; it’s a strategic asset designed to provide survivable, long-range, penetrating strike capabilities. It is set to have the main role in deterring aggression in support of national security objectives, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. The Air Force is rebuilding its operational plans around the B-21, which, upon full entry into service, is foreseen to replace most of the service’s nuclear delivery weapons, including its ICBMs.
With the B-21 continuing with flight tests and inching closer to operational capability, the aircraft represents a commitment by Northrop Grumman toward continuing the future of U.S. air dominance.