The B-21 Raider takes off and the first flight of the American sixth generation strategic bomber goes around the world. The video, shared by freelance photojournalist Matt Hartman on “X” and shot from outside the historic U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, documented the long-awaited presence in the skies of the first stealth aircraft developed in decades as it was escorted from An F- 16 aircraft was en route to nearby Edwards Air Force Base, where subsequent flight tests will take place. The new B-21 Raider stealth bomber is the latest radar-stealth aircraft equipped with technologies that make it invisible to any tracking device.
INSIGHTS
Nuclear stealth bomber in flight for the first time
Ann Stefanek, spokeswoman for the US Air Force, also confirmed the first flight of the nuclear stealth bomber: “The B-21 Raider is currently undergoing flight tests,” she said, explaining that this phase is “a fundamental step in the air-controlled test campaign” Force Test Center and the 412th Test Wing’s B-21 Combined Test Force.
This is an important step for the sponsored “world’s first sixth-generation aircraft,” which was unveiled in December 2022. Almost a year ago, Northrop Grumman said that the first flight would take place in 2023 and that six test aircraft were being prepared. After the presentation, Doug Young, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems, said, “The B-21 is the most advanced military aircraft ever built and a product of groundbreaking innovation and technological excellence.” The B-21, which launched Friday, is Part of an initial series of six aircraft built by Northrop-Grumman for pre-production testing intended to produce 100 bombers. The US aircraft company is expected to soon receive a government order for the first slow production run, which could include up to 21 aircraft.
The characteristics of the B-21 Raider
The aircraft is the U.S.’s first new stealth bomber in more than 30 years and has been equipped with next-generation stealth technology and long-range flight capabilities to make it adaptable to any mission, according to the manufacturer. “The penetrating stealth bomber will serve as the backbone of America’s bomber force,” Pentagon leadership said. The “flying wing” B-21 Raider is the successor to the B-2 Spirit and can carry both conventional and nuclear payloads. The new strategic bomber will have nuclear strike capabilities, but is not currently intended to replace the aging B-52Hs in service with the US Air Force, which will remain in the US Air Force at least until 2050, making them the most widespread become “old people”. Initial calculations estimate that each new bomber will cost around $700 million, while documents released by the US government put the total value of bomber production at around $20 billion.