“Significant Progress” Made on B-21 Raider

Numerous U.S. military programs are running years behind schedule, but one is running almost like clockwork, at least by procurement standards. In 2019, United States Air Force officials had suggested the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider would make its maiden flight by the end of. Yet, it wasn’t until December 2022 that the flying wing aircraft—designed to replace the aging Rockwell B-1B Lancer and Northrop B-2 Spirit—received its official unveiling.

However, since that public reveal two years ago, the program has made notable progress, including making its maiden flight just eleven months after it was officially introduced to the world.

Aerospace giant Northrop Grumman recently announced that flight tests have continued throughout 2024. The Raider is now on track to enter service in 2026 or 2027.

“The B-21 Raider made significant progress in our flight test campaign this year, continuing to demonstrate the value of our digital technology and the power of the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft,” Northrop Grumman said in a statement. The aviation firm noted its close collaboration with the U.S. Air Force, “We extend our gratitude to the United States Air Force for their partnership in bringing the B-21 to life.”

Test Flights Going Well

There have also been reports that the flight tests are progressing as expected, and according to the defense contractor, the B-21 has performed well.

“Overall, I am pleased to see the performance of our test jet. The handling qualities are better than expected coming out of the simulated environment—validating the accuracy of the digital models the team has developed and analyzed over many years,” said Chris “Hoss” Moss, Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider test pilot, in a September interview.

“Flight test is an exciting time, and we’re making great progress on B-21,” added Tom Jones, corporate vice president and Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems’ president, in the same report. “The CTF team has demonstrated we can execute multiple flight test events within the span of a week. Northrop Grumman’s digital ecosystem is enabling that progress, allowing us to analyze test data, make updates and return to flight test with speed and efficiency.”

From Prototype To Production

As of the beginning of 2024, six B-21 Raider prototype aircraft were already in distinct phases of production. That approach has enabled engineers and technicians to troubleshoot and apply lessons learned directly to follow-on aircraft.

In addition to constructing a state-of-the-art bomber, Air Force officials have underscored their focus on containing costs while allowing for maximum flexibility.

Honoring The Doolittle Raiders

The B-21 Raider is now nearly a decade in the making. Northrop Grumman first attained the contract for the next-generation bomber in 2015, and the company then quickly assembled a nationwide team to build it. The Raider—named for the eighty men who participated in the 1942 “Doolittle Raid” on Tokyo in 1942—was developed using the aerospace firm’s pioneering digital engineering practices and advanced manufacturing techniques.

In late 2023, the U.S. Department of Defense approved the B-21’s move into low-rate initial production (LRIP), and Northrop Grumman was provided a Pentagon LRIP contract in January 2024. The LRIP phase is currently on track for five lots and will run through the end of this decade.

The Air Force has set a goal of acquiring a fleet of at least 100 B-21s, but some analysts have called for that number to be doubled.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites, with over 3,200 published pieces and over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image: Anatoliy Lukich / Shutterstock.com.