In what marks a new step for the B-21 Raider program, the U.S. Air Force confirmed that the first flight of the second of its new sixth-generation stealth bombers took place, with the aircraft arriving yesterday at Edwards Air Force Base after flying from Northrop Grumman’s facilities in Palmdale, California. According to official channels, the second aircraft will join the service in order to accelerate the testing phase to which the platform as a whole is being subjected, particularly facilitating the testing of critical mission systems and weapons integration.
General David Allvin, current Chief of Staff of the Air Force, stated: “In addition of a second B-21 to the flight test program accelerates the path to fielding. By having more assets in the test environment, we bring this capability to our warfighters faster, demonstrating the urgency with which we’re tackling modernization.” For his part, Acting Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said: “With the arrival of the second B-21 Raider, our flight test campaign gains substantial momentum.”
The U.S. Air Force also emphasized that the delivery of an additional aircraft will accelerate the training of future technicians responsible for maintaining the B-21 platform, while also allowing for the testing of different tools and procedures associated with those processes. From the manufacturer, Northrop Grumman reported that the personnel in question will use the B-21 Fleet Management Tool currently in development, which, it stated, incorporates lessons learned from various previously produced systems that equipped the U.S. Armed Forces.
Furthermore, the U.S. company detailed that it continues to work in collaboration with the Air Force to carry out a broad series of ground tests aimed at ensuring the bomber’s performance ahead of its delivery to future crews. This includes evaluations under extreme mission conditions and projections of long-term wear in simulators. Northrop Grumman maintains that the data obtained so far demonstrate performance exceeding that predicted by the initial digital models, reinforcing the USAF’s confidence in the platform.
In parallel with these advances, the service is moving steadily forward with plans for extensive construction projects at the three main operational bases that will host the B-21, with announcements expected next year. In the specific case of Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, the institution indicated that the necessary infrastructure work to receive the sixth-generation bombers is already underway, aiming for it to be the first to host the aircraft once they become operational.
Image credits: U.S. Air Force.
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