Northrop Grumman has announced a significant stride in the flight-testing and production of the US Air Force’s futuristic B-21 Raider.
Since its unveiling in December 2022, the company reports that the stealth bomber now undergoes up to two test flights per week, demonstrating its commitment to making the warplane operational as soon as possible.
Northrop also currently possesses three Raiders in various configurations, of which two are for ground testing and one for flight trials.
Recently, the B-21 assigned for ground testing completed a static test, verifying its structural design.
The one designated for flight trials also conducted fatigue testing that simulated real, long-term flight conditions.
“We’re really starting to strike up quite a cadence,” company president Tom Jones said. “I think we’re well on the way to delivering a kind of asset that can be that daily flier for US warfighters out there.”
Preparing for Tomorrow
The B-21 is the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft, featuring a significant leap in capability beyond fifth-generation fighter jets such as the F-35 and China’s J-31.
It is designed to defeat the most sophisticated threats in modern warfare.
The plane incorporates stealth technology to minimize its signature, making it harder for adversaries to detect and counter.
It is also capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons.
The US Air Force said it plans to procure at least 100 B-21s to replace its older B-1 and B-2 bombers.
“The progress we’ve made on B-21 in the last 12 months is remarkable,” Jones stated, adding that this development “gives us additional confidence as we look ahead to delivering on B-21.”