On May 22, the US Air Force released new images of the B-21 Raider, providing the first official photos of the bomber since it made its first flight last year.
B-21's First Flight Test
The images show the nuclear stealth bomber taking off, in flight, and in a hangar at Edwards Air Force Base, providing a peek of the highly secretive aircraft. On May 8, Air Force's Service Acquisition Executive Andrew Hunter provided a rare update on the bomber's status during his testimony to the Senate Committee on Armed Services.
Hunter did not give further details about the flight tests since they are considered highly sensitive. The Air Force also previously indicated that it would not provide specific details about the test program or the number of flights conducted by the bomber. Nonetheless, authorities noted that the program is on track and are optimistic about the results.
The flight tests of B-21 began after its first flight on November 10, 2023 from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale. Although the Air Force maintains secrecy of the bomber's status, it acknowledged that the flight test campaign of the aircraft is ongoing.
A spokesperson from the US Air Force confirmed that the aircraft flew again on January 17, 2024 and succeeding flights were reported to have taken place in late March and early April. The most recent confirmed flight occurred on April 4, 2024.
The image of the B-21 taking off is from January, according to the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, while the photos of the bomber in flight and in a hangar are from early April. The exact number of test flights completed by B-21 is not provided publicly.
Features of B-21 Raider
The B-21 is a long-range, penetrating strike stealth bomber which is created to replace the B-1 and B-2 bombers. It is a developmental, highly survivable aircraft designed to deliver both nuclear and conventional munitions.
The bomber's wingspan is about 140 feet (43 meters), smaller than the 172-foot (52-meter) wingspan of B-2. The Defense Visual Information Distribution Service plans to acquire at least 100 units of B-21 to replace its 45 units of B-1 and 20 units of B-2 over the next decade.
Advanced digital design tools were utilized by the B-21 program. These tools are vital in identifying and correcting errors early in the designing stage of the bomber. They also enable extensive modeling and testing before the actual physical construction.
Compared to the previous aircraft, B-21's design is more digital in nature. According to the US Air Force, the newest bomber is expected to significantly contribute to the country's national security objectives and reassure its allies and partners worldwide.
The nuclear stealth bomber also features an open systems architecture, which enables rapid integration of advanced technologies. It also ensures the aircraft's effectiveness against evolving threats.
According to the US Air Force, the B-21 test aircraft will be usable assets as soon as they are found to be airworthy. The agency also plans to convert the bomber to operational configuration after the completion of its operational and developmental testing.
Check out more news and information on Bombers in Science Times.
