The US Air Force (USAF) has provided more details about the B-21 Raider, a stealth bomber that is the most advanced military aircraft known in the world.
During a panel at the Air and Space Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference on September 18, William Bailey, Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office director; and Thomas Jones, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems sector president, revealed information about the progress of the aircraft’s tests.
According to them, the B-21 is already performing two test flights per week at Edwards AFB in California, with a view to achieving the goal of a daily flight.
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Additionally, Northrop and the Air Force conducted fatigue tests and grounded a B-21 airframe to “confirm the structural design of the aircraft is sound and validated confidence in the digital models,” Bailey said.
Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of the Air Force’s Global Strike Command, stressed the importance of having a strategic sixth-generation aircraft in today’s global scenario.
“We are the free world’s only bomber force. We’re probably not going to see a decreased demand signal from our regional combatant commands on bomber task forces,” Bussiere added. “That demand signal, in my opinion, is only going to go up in the years ahead. As we transition from legacy to new, the B-21 fleet will provide great comfort to our allies and should provide great pause to any potential adversary.”
The Air Force said the production goal is to have at least 100 B-21s in service, which will be distributed across three air bases in the United States.
The USAF also released a short video on its social media channels showing the Raider in flight for the first time.
Testing continues for the B-21 Raider, a dual-capable penetrating strike stealth bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. Ellsworth Air Force Base, Whiteman Air Force Base, and Dyess Air Force Base are expected to receive the B-21.
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— U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) September 18, 2024
