Photos of the newest US B-21 Raider stealth bomber published
The US Air Force has published photos of its newest stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider.
The photos, taken in January and April, show the new bomber during testing. The new images come at a time when the long-range aircraft is one step away from entering service at the end of this decade.
The Pentagon leadership has emphasized that the B-21 will become the “backbone” of America’s future bomber fleet. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin praised the stealth capabilities of the aircraft, noting that decades of technological progress were used to develop the bomber.
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Andrew Gunther said earlier this month that the B-21 flight test program is “progressing well” and is on schedule.
The B-21 is the first strategic bomber of the US Army in more than 30 years. Development began in 2015, but the Pentagon presented the Raider only in December 2022. Almost a year later, in November 2023, the plane finally took off on its long-awaited maiden flight. Following successful ground and flight tests, initial production was authorized.
The B-21 is scheduled to enter service in the second half of the decade. The military aims to produce at least 100 of these aircraft. According to U.S. officials, the Raider is to gradually replace the B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers.
Northrop Grumman, the company that manufactures the B-21 Raider, emphasizes the uniqueness of this aircraft, describing it as “the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft.”
