For over four decades, the B-52 Stratofortress has formed the backbone of the manned United States strategic bomber force. First flown in 1954, this jet has been incredibly adaptable and enduring. Capable of carrying a wide portfolio of weapons, the B-52 is armed with gravity bombs, cluster bombs, precision-guided missiles, and joint direct attack munitions. Modern technological upgrades pave the way for the B-52 to be an essential factor in U.S. defenses far into the 21st century, with current engineering analyses projecting its operational life span beyond 2040.
The B-52H model is the only version still operational and is capable of carrying as many as 20 air-launched cruise missiles. It has played a critical role in many military operations. The B-52 has shown its adaptability and utility in every conflict from Operation Desert Storm to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Indeed, on September 2-3, 1996, two B-52Hs flew a 34-hour, 16,000-mile sortie from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, to strike Baghdad power stations and communications facilities with 13 AGM-86C conventional air-launched cruise missiles in Operation Desert Strike.
Meanwhile, the U.S. The Air Force has heralded a new era in strategic bombing with the introduction of the B-21 Raider. Northrop Grumman’s next-generation stealth bomber is supposed to bear conventional and nuclear munitions. The flying-wing design of the B-21, much like the B-2 Spirit but with highly advanced features, represents a significant leap in stealth technology. Other design features contributing to this are the aircraft’s recessed engine inlets, dual-wheel main landing gear, and uniquely trapezoidal windscreens that further improve its low-observable characteristics.
With the 2015 award of the Long-Range Strike Bomber contract, Northrop Grumman applied digital design techniques and open-system architecture to reduce hurdles and timelines for upgrades and modernization. The B-21 is part of a “family of systems” that includes complementary ISR, C2, and electronic warfare aircraft able to ensure survivability even in high-threat environments. The Air Force plans to buy at least 100 B-21s. The first B-21s are set to be delivered in the mid-2020s.
The first flight for the B-21 Raider took place on November 10, 2023. Taking off from Air Force Plant 42, California, the aircraft landed at Edwards Air Force Base after flying for 90 minutes. It confirms the readiness of the aircraft for further testing and operational deployment while opening the gate for low-rate initial production. As Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said, “The B-21 safely landed. This was a test flight.”
A spokesperson with Northrop Grumman emphasized that the B-21 remains in a robust flight test campaign, managed by a Combined Test Force of Northrop Grumman and Air Force personnel to help validate digital models and drive toward operational capability. The first operational B-21s will be assigned to Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, with maintenance occurring at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.
With over three decades of innovation in strike and stealth technology, the B-21 Raider is positioned to be the backbone of the U.S. Air Force’s strategic bomber fleet. Advanced integration of data, sensors, and weapons will deliver unprecedented flexibility and capability. The B-21 has been designed to penetrate the most sophisticated defenses and precision-strike any target in the world, thereby ensuring the continuation of U.S. strategic deterrence.
Moving into flight tests, the B-21 is a testimony to the spirit of innovation and technological capability of the U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman-named The Raider in honor of the WWII Doolittle Raiders, symbolizing the beginning of a new era in air superiority and strategic bombing capability.