The U.S. Air Force recently said that the first B-21 Raider stealth bomber is also expected to be officially unveiled in early 2022, with the first flight taking place in the middle of next year at the earliest. (Northrop Grumman/U.S. Air Force)
The U.S. Air Force recently said that the first B-21 Raider stealth bomber is still being assembled and is expected to be officially unveiled in early 2022, with the first flight taking place as soon as the middle of next year, while the second is being produced at Northrop Grumman’s Palmdale, California facility and is undergoing Air Force airframe inspections.
The U.S. Air Force previously predicted that the mystery B-21 bomber could make its first flight in December 2021. But Randall Walden, director of the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, said in an exclusive interview with Air Force Magazine recently that such predictions tend to project the smoothest possible scenario, and For now, it looks like a first flight in mid-2022 is the likely option.
The U.S. Air Force recently said the first B-21 Raider stealth bomber is also expected to be unveiled in early 2022, with its first flight taking place as early as the middle of next year. (Northrop Grumman/U.S. Air Force)
He said that although the first Raider is not yet in final assembly, “it’s really looking more and more like a bomber,” saying “it looks great.” Regarding the second production process, he said we are very pleased with the production efficiency of the second B-21 bomber compared to the first, which is being built “very efficiently.
Walden noted that the second aircraft is now coming off the production line and its airframe will be inspected by the Air Force. “The next issue with the second one is really related to more structural and overall constructability, and we’ll be testing the limits of fuselage flexing to make sure that all the design, manufacturing and production lines are up to snuff.
Concept drawing of the B-21 stealth bomber. (Public Domain)
In addition, Northrop Grumman is currently testing bomber avionics and associated software on commercial airliners to ensure that the associated avionics and software are effectively tuned before being installed on the B-21 bomber, thereby reducing risk.
Walden said the first flight will take place only after detailed coordination with Northrop Grumman, key suppliers and the test community to ensure “we are ready to go.
Lt. Gen. James C. Dawkins, deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration, said on Jan. 14, 2021, that the B-21 will enter service around 2026 or 2027. The U.S. Air Force estimates the cost of developing and purchasing the first 100 aircraft at $80 billion in 2016 dollar terms, according to the Congressional Budget Office for 2018.
The U.S. Air Force recently said the first B-21 Raider stealth bomber is also expected to be officially unveiled in early 2022, with its first flight taking place as early as the middle of next year. (Northrop Grumman/U.S. Air Force)
The B-21 bomber originated from the U.S. Army’s “Long Range Strike Bomber Program” in 2010, which was approved in February 2011, and in October 2015, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that Northrop Grumman would undertake the development of the new bomber. “The “long-range strike bomber” was named the B-21, meaning the bomber of the 21st century, with the code name “Raider.
The U.S. Air Force said earlier that the highly anticipated high-tech B-21 bomber will bring new dimensions of stealth, software upgrades, enhanced strike capabilities and nuclear deterrence to the Air Force, and that this latest bomber may even introduce new tactical approaches.
Recent Comments