B-21 Raider: The US Air Force just got second B-21 Raider landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California on September 11. With two of these stealth bombers now in testing, the Air Force says it can move a lot faster with both flying checks and training for crews who will maintain them in the future.
Before, the first B-21 was only doing early flights to check performance. Now with a second plane around, the tests can go deeper into mission systems and even weapons.
Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said, “With the arrival of the second B-21 Raider, our flight test campaign gains substantial momentum. We can now expedite critical evaluations of mission systems and weapons capabilities, directly supporting the strategic deterrence and combat effectiveness envisioned for this aircraft” reported Air force.
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The second jet also helps ground crews. It gives them hands-on practice to manage two planes at once, which is closer to what real squadrons will do.
Gen. David Allvin explained it clearly: “In addition of a second B-21 to the flight test program accelerates the path to fielding. By having more assets in the test environment, we bring this capability to our warfighters faster, demonstrating the urgency with which we’re tackling modernization.”
Work in Bases have began
Work is already starting for bases that will host the B-21 in the future. In the 2026 big construction projects will begin at all three operating bases. Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota will be the first to receive the new bombers, and work there is already moving fast.
Gen. Allvin added, “The B-21 Raider program represents a cornerstone of our strategic nuclear modernization. The concurrent efforts in testing, sustainment preparation and infrastructure investments clearly illustrate our commitment to providing unmatched capabilities to deter and defeat threats well into the future.”
The Raider is built as a sixth-generation stealth bomber, made to carry both nuclear and conventional weapons. Northrop Grumman is making it with the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. While the test flights continue, production has also begun slowly so that the Air Force can get the jets into service on time.
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B-21: Features
The new bomber uses updated stealth materials and design so it can hide from advanced radars. It is built to fly into tough, defended airspace where older bombers like the B-2 might be seen. Another big part of the plan is cost. The B-2 costs nearly $2 billion each and needs a lot of work to keep flying. The B-21 is designed to be easier and cheaper to maintain so it can fly more often.
The plane can also fly longer distances, carry different weapons, and even work with drones in the future. Since it was made with digital design from the start, its software and systems can be updated faster as new threats appear.
The US plans to build at least 100 B-21 Raiders, much more than the small B-2 fleet of just 20 jets.
