by Olawale Abaire, Warrior Editorial Fellow
The B-21 Raider, the latest addition to the United States Air Force’s bomber fleet, is making significant progress in its flight test program at Edwards Air Force Base.
Since its unveiling on December 2, 2022, the B-21 has been undergoing rigorous testing. According to Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, the program is on track to meet its timelines and deliver the aircraft to the warfighter.
The B-21 Raider is a long-range, highly survivable, penetrating strike stealth bomber designed to incrementally replace the B-1 and B-2 bombers. With its advanced digital architecture, the B-21 is the first aircraft to be more digital than not, making it a game-changer in modern aerial warfare. Its open systems architecture enables the rapid insertion of mature technologies, allowing the aircraft to remain effective as threats evolve over time.
During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Andrew Hunter, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, emphasized that the B-21’s flight testing is progressing as planned, with an expected delivery date to the warfighter set for May 8.
Hunter, responding to a query about the B-21 program, stated, “We are currently in the midst of the flight test program, which is progressing smoothly. The program is fulfilling its intended purpose of helping us understand the unique attributes of this platform in a highly effective manner.”
Hunter elaborated that this is the first aircraft that is predominantly digital, a factor that contributes to the program meeting its requirements.
The B-21 Raider program remains on schedule, with ongoing flight testing at Northrop Grumman’s manufacturing facility located at Edwards Air Force Base in California. It is designed with an open architecture, allowing for the integration of new technologies and the ability to respond to future threats across a wide range of operations. This Long-Range Strike Family of Systems is set to significantly improve mission effectiveness and joint interoperability in advanced threat environments, thereby bolstering U.S. deterrence and strategic advantage.
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The tests on the B-21 are crucial steps in its journey towards becoming the backbone of the U.S. Air Force bomber fleet. It boasts the range, access, and payload capacity necessary to penetrate even the most heavily contested threat environments and hold any global target at risk.
The Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (AFRCO) oversees the acquisition program, with a focus on making test aircraft as representative of production as possible. Test aircraft are built on the same manufacturing line and use the same manpower and tooling that will be used in eventual production. The AFRCO’s strategy includes building test aircraft that are as representative of production as possible. Instead of a traditional flight prototype approach, B-21 test aircraft are built, including mission systems, using the same manufacturing processes and tooling as production aircraft. This development approach has laid the groundwork for production to commence more swiftly.
Upon the B-21’s entry into service, Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota will serve as the first main operating base and location of the formal training unit. Whiteman AFB in Missouri and Dyess AFB in Texas are the preferred locations for the remaining bases and will receive aircraft as they become available.
