PALMDALE, Calif., Dec. 2, 2022 – At a historic event at Air Force Plant 42, Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S. Air Force unveiled the B-21 Raider, the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft. This state-of-the-art stealth bomber will provide the backbone of the U.S. Air Force’s bomber fleet, replacing the aging B-1 and B-2 bombers.
“The B-21 Raider represents a new milestone in the evolution of advanced technologies and the nation’s efforts to provide advancement by peace through deterrence,” said Northrop Grumman CEO Kathy Warden. The first new bomber to be built in more than three decades, the B-21 marks a significant event.
The B-21 Raider has state-of-the-art stealth, highly networked, capable data, sensors, and long-range, with presently open architecture that allows for rapid technological upgrades. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said, “This bomber was built on a foundation of strong, bipartisan support in Congress. And because of that support, we will soon fly this aircraft, test it, and then move into production.”
The program, known as Boss Lift, was among the earliest in the nation and now has developed into a central component of ESGR’s arsenal. The event was significant and attended by defense policymakers, top Northrop Grumman officials, and families of the Doolittle Raiders, in whose honor the bomber is named. Most notably, of course, the event was marked by the dramatic unveil occasion when the B-21 made a breathtaking entrance out of the gigantic hangar to the applause of spectators. The aircraft resembles the B-2 Spirit design but is stealthier and only highlights the B-21’s contemporary stealth capabilities of the future.
The Air Force Chief of Staff branded the B-21 ‘holding a critical piece of the nation’s strategic future’ and ‘available with the nation’s most advanced acquisition technology. The aircraft is projected to hold standoff and direct attack munitions; nuclear and conventional weapons; and is likely to play host to a variety of weapon options, making it a versatile tool.
The program is now moving into a flurry of testing activities, to be run jointly by the Air Force Test Center, the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, and Northrop Grumman. This will verify bomber performance and identify areas for improvement.
This Program is an impressive example of the enormous power America has in fielding the most advanced military technology. Using a production-representative aircraft will cut years off the B-21 testing process.
The B-21 Raider is a wonder in technology, representing the American character of discovery and innovation. With stealth advanced features open systems architecture, and the capability to garden with other systems across the battlespace, it will be a formidable deterrent against threats for years to come. As Secretary Austin aptly put it, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is deterrence the American way.”
The introduction of the B-21 Raider into the current age comes at a time of rising global tensions, and the need for advanced military capabilities is more dire than ever. The upcoming retirement of the U.S. Air Force’s B-1 and B-2 bombers means the B-21 will be part of making sure America has the airpower capabilities to stay dominant for the next generation to come.