Northrop Grumman delivers production-ready test aircraft to Edwards AFB, advancing weapons integration and maintenance development for stealth bomber program
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. â The U.S. Air Force has received its second B-21 Raider stealth bomber from Northrop Grumman Corp., marking a significant milestone in the next-generation aircraft’s development as the service pushes toward fielding at least 100 of the strategic bombers.
The Air Force announced the delivery Sept. 11, with the aircraft arriving at Edwards Air Force Base after departing Northrop’s development and production facility in nearby Palmdale, Calif.
“With the arrival of the second B-21 Raider, our flight test campaign gains substantial momentum,” said Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink. “We can now expedite critical evaluations of mission systems and weapons capabilities, directly supporting the strategic deterrence and combat effectiveness envisioned for this aircraft.”
The second bomber, like its predecessor, represents a production-quality test aircraft designed to advance the Raider through certification requirements. Having two operational test platforms allows the Air Force to expand beyond initial flight performance evaluations and begin assessing critical mission systems and weapons integration capabilities.
The expanded testing fleet enables Air Force maintainers to develop experience managing multiple B-21 aircraft simultaneously while evaluating maintenance tools effectiveness and gathering technical data essential for future operational squadrons.
General David Allvin, Air Force chief of staff, emphasized the strategic importance of accelerating the test program.
“By having more assets in the test environment, we bring this capability to our war fighters faster, demonstrating the urgency with which we’re tackling modernization,” Allvin said.
The initial B-21 completed its maiden flight in late 2023, traveling from Northrop’s Palmdale facility to Edwards AFB to commence the Air Force testing campaign. The Pentagon approved low-rate production of the bomber in early 2024.
Northrop previously confirmed at least six B-21 aircraft are currently under assembly, including the two now conducting flight tests. The company has reported the initial test aircraft generates up to two sorties per week.
Construction of ground infrastructure to support the future bomber fleet will begin with extensive military construction projects starting in fiscal year 2026, which begins Oct. 1, 2025. The Air Force has designated three bases to host operational B-21 squadrons.
Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, selected as the first operational site for the flying-wing aircraft, is already advancing infrastructure projects necessary to support the bombers when they arrive. The service expects the first operational B-21s to reach Ellsworth sometime in the mid-2020s.
“The B-21 Raider programme represents a cornerstone of our strategic nuclear modernization,” Allvin said.
The new stealth bombers will eventually replace the Boeing B-1B supersonic heavy bomber and the Air Force’s current stealth bomber, the Northrop B-2 Spirit. The Cold War-era Boeing B-52s will continue serving alongside the new B-21.
Despite outward similarities to the B-2, the B-21 promises generational improvements in performance while offering significantly simplified maintenance requirements. The B-2’s upkeep presents notable challenges, particularly in preserving the aircraft’s critical low-observability coating and radar-absorbent materials.
The specialized coating requires extensive maintenance over time and must be removed to access certain maintenance panels. In contrast, the Air Force describes the B-21 as designed to be a “daily flyer” that proves much more accommodating to sustainment crews.
Northrop selected the flying-wing configuration for the B-2’s successor after exploring thousands of design options to meet Air Force cost and stealth requirements.
“The flying wing is the best alternative for meeting those requirements and affordability targets,” Chief Executive Kathy Warden said in 2022.
Known B-21 features include an unconventional cockpit window layout and recessed engine intakes positioned above the fuselageâsimilar to the B-2âwhich makes detection by ground-based radars more difficult by concealing the bomber’s engine signature.
The planned fleet of at least 100 Raiders represents a significant expansion over the existing inventory of just 20 B-2 aircraft. Runaway procurement costs forced Washington to slash B-2 acquisition in the post-Cold War era, prompting the service to implement strict price controls on the B-21 program to avoid repeating that outcome.
Key Takeaways
- The Air Force received its second B-21 Raider Sept. 11, accelerating the test campaign beyond basic flight performance to weapons integration and maintenance procedures.
- At least 100 B-21s will replace current B-1B and B-2 bombers, with first operational aircraft expected at Ellsworth Air Force Base in the mid-2020s.
- The B-21 is designed as a “daily flyer” with significantly easier maintenance compared to the challenging upkeep requirements of the B-2 Spirit.
- Infrastructure construction begins fiscal year 2026, while at least six aircraft are currently under assembly following Pentagon approval of low-rate production in early 2024.
