The USAF will rollout and reveal their highly-classified, next generation B-21 Raider stealth bomber to the world in early December.
Northrop Grumman has been developing the new bomber now for years. Six aircraft are currently in various stages of production and testing.
It’s the backbone of America’s 21st century bomber force, consisting of B-21s and B-52s. Raiders will deliver conventional and nuclear munitions, and employ a broad mix of stand-off and direct-attack munitions. They will also accommodate crewed or un-crewed operations.
Rollout Date Announced Today
“The B-21 Raider program is foundational to the Air Force’s operational imperative for an effective, long-range strike family of systems to guarantee our ability to strike any target, anytime, anywhere, even in the most contested environment,” says Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. “
The first plane will be formally rolled out at Northrop’s Palmdale, CA facility. USAF acquisition executive Andrew Hunter confirmed the news at this week’s Air Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, MD.
Although the USAF will rollout the first B-21 in December, the exact date is still being worked out.
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 attack against Japan following Pearl Harbor on April 18, 1942. The designation B-21 recognizes the Raider as the first bomber of the 21st century.
