B-21 Stealth Bomber Successfully Completes Maiden Voyage
The B-21 Raider, a next-generation stealth bomber, has made its first appearance in the skies over California, marking a significant milestone in its development. The aircraft, named after the Doolittle Raiders of World War II, took off from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale at approximately 7 a.m. local time on November 10 and landed at Edwards Air Force Base around 8:30 a.m.[1][2]
The B-21 Raider's test flight from Palmdale to Edwards Air Force Base, though not publicly disclosed in detail due to the sensitive nature of the program, is believed to have followed a typical route involving secure or restricted airspace to maintain operational security.[3]
Edwards Air Force Base, with its extensive facilities and remote location, is a primary site for military aircraft testing, making it an ideal location for the testing of stealth aircraft like the B-21.[1][3] The aircraft was seen trailing a lengthy cable from the upper surface of its tail on the port side, near the exhausts, during the flight.[4]
The test aircraft will be converted to operational configuration after developmental and operational testing is complete.[5] Northrop Grumman, the prime contractor, expects to receive a $60 million adjustment from the Air Force to mitigate additional expenses due to the fixed-price nature of the program and inflation/labor costs in recent years.[6]
Maintenance for the B-21 will be managed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, while the first operational B-21s will be based at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota.[7] The successful test flight clears the way for the Air Force to issue a low-rate initial production contract for the bomber.[8]
The B-21 Raider, designed to replace older models like the B-1 and B-2, is expected to cost around $700 million each in current dollars.[9] The flight of the B-21 Raider bomber fulfills the prediction that it would fly before the end of 2023.[10] The program has been ongoing since the contract was awarded in 2015.[11]
As of now, six test aircraft are currently being produced.[12] The B-21 Raider's maiden test flight marks a significant step forward in the development of this cutting-edge stealth bomber, setting the stage for its operational service later this decade.
References: [1] https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2023/11/b-21-raider-bomber-takes-flight-california/197185/ [2] https://www.airforcemag.com/b-21-raider-bomber-takes-flight-in-california/ [3] https://www.airforcemag.com/b-21-raider-test-flight-details-remain-scant/ [4] https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/11/10/b-21-raider-bomber-filmed-during-flight-with-visible-landing-gear/ [5] https://www.airforcemag.com/b-21-raider-test-flight-details-remain-scant/ [6] https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/11/10/northrop-grumman-seeks-60m-from-air-force-to-offset-b-21-costs/ [7] https://www.airforcemag.com/b-21-raider-test-flight-details-remain-scant/ [8] https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2023/11/b-21-raider-bomber-takes-flight-california/197185/ [9] https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2023/11/b-21-raider-bomber-takes-flight-california/197185/ [10] https://www.airforcemag.com/b-21-raider-test-flight-details-remain-scant/ [11] https://www.airforcemag.com/b-21-raider-test-flight-details-remain-scant/ [12] https://www.airforcemag.com/b-21-raider-test-flight-details-remain-scant/
The test flight of the B-21 Raider, a next-generation stealth bomber, involved secure airspace to maintain operational security, indicating the involvement of the air force and the usage of the industry's aerospace technology. The successful test has led to expectations of further development, with the aircraft conversion to operational configuration after testing and a potential low-rate initial production contract. Financing for the program has been managed, with Northrop Grumman receiving adjustments from the Air Force to mitigate additional expenses due to inflation and labor costs. The B-21 Raider, costing around $700 million each in current dollars, is expected to be based at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, upon operational service later this decade.
