The U.S. Air Force rolled out America’s new B-21 Raider stealth bomber this evening at an unveiling ceremony hosted and sponsored by Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, California.
The new, highly-classified, next generation long-range bomber will over time replace the nation’s aging B-1 and B-2 bombers. The B-21 will be the backbone of America’s 21st century bomber force, consisting of B-21s and B-52s.
The ceremony actually opened with flyovers of a B-52, B-1 and B-2 during the National Anthem. You can watch the ceremony above, which took place at the same facility where Northrop rolled out the world’s first stealth bomber, the B-2, over three decades ago.
The backbone of America’s 21st Century bomber force
Northrop Grumman has been developing the new bomber now for years. Six aircraft are currently in various stages of production and testing. Development, however, has been highly classified. Even the ceremony itself only allowed people to view the plane from the front, bathed most of the time in low-light.
The bomber’s nose gear door wears the serial number 00001, with the tail code of Edwards Air Force Base painted on its main landing gear doors.
Northrop says their new B-21 is the world’s first sixth-generation combat aircraft, and while they won’t elaborate and what all the plane can do, most people agree a sixth-gen platform would come with better sensors, improved stealth, and the ability to employ energy weapons like lasers.
The USAF says B-21s will fly with high frequency, able to deliver conventional and nuclear munitions with formidable precision, and employ a broad mix of stand-off and direct-attack munitions. They will also accommodate crewed or un-crewed operations, able to adapt over time as missions and threats evolve.
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It was built with an open system architecture, making it highly adaptable. So over time, it will be able to employ weapons that haven’t even been invented yet. It’s also multi-functional, able to handle anything from gathering intel to battle management, to integrating with allies and partners, and it will work seamlessly across domains, theaters and the joint force.
“We last introduced a new bomber over 30 years ago,” said Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen CQ Brown, Jr. “As we look to the threats posed by our pacing challenge, we must continue to rapidly modernize. The B-21 Raider will provide formidable combat capability across a range of operations in highly contested environments of the future.”
USAF wants at least 100 Raiders in their arsenal
The USAF wants to acquire at least 100. Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota will be the Raider’s first main operating base, and host the Formal Training Unit.
Whiteman AFB, Missouri, and Dyess AFB, Texas will be second and third main operating bases.
The first test aircraft completed loads calibration testing earlier this year, before undergoing verification and validation testing of its structural design prior to flight. Further integration and ground testing is ongoing.
Following a successful ground test campaign, the first B-21 flight is scheduled for 2023 at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. Edwards hosts the B-21 Combined Test Force.
The B-21 Raider is named after the Doolittle Raiders, who carried out the historic surprise counterattack against Japan following Pearl Harbor on April 18, 1942. The designation B-21 recognizes the Raider as the first bomber of the 21st century.
