The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is an American strategic bomber under development for the United States Air Force by Northrop Grumman. Benefitting from more than three decades of strike and stealth technology innovation, the B-21 is the next evolution of the US Air Force strategic bomber fleet and the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft to reach the skies.
The Northrop Grumman B-21 test aircraft is equipped with mission systems and was built by the same manufacturing technicians using the same processes and tooling for production aircraft. When it comes to delivering America’s resolve, the Raider will provide the Air Force with long range, high survivability and mission payload flexibility. The B-21 will penetrate the toughest defenses for precision strikes anywhere in the world. The US Air Force’s B-21 “Raider” bomber took its first flight on Friday, the next step in rolling out a new fleet of long-range nuclear-capable stealth bomber. Here are the top facts you need to know about Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider as it continues flight test.
1. Sixth Generation
The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is the future evolution of the Air Force strategic bomber fleet. Developed with the next generation of stealth technology, advanced networking capabilities and an open systems architecture, the B-21 is optimized for the high-end threat environment. It will play a critical role in helping the Air Force meet its most complex missions.
2. Digital Bomber
The B-21 is a digital bomber. Northrop Grumman uses agile software development, advanced manufacturing techniques and digital engineering tools to help mitigate production risk on the B-21 program and enable modern sustainment practices. Six B-21 Raiders are in various stages of final assembly and test at Northrop Grumman’s plant in Palmdale, California.
3. Stealth
Northrop Grumman is continuously advancing technology, employing new manufacturing techniques and materials to ensure that the B-21 will defeat the anti-access, area-denial systems it will face. On the outside, next-gen stealth and advancements in low observable processes will make the aircraft easier and less costly to maintain than prior systems.
4. Backbone of the Fleet
The B-21 Raider will be the backbone of the future for US air power. The B-21 will is expected to deliver a new era of capability and flexibility through advanced integration of data, sensors and weapons. Capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear payloads, the B-21 will be one of the most effective aircraft in the sky, with the ability to use a broad mix of stand-off and direct attack munitions.
5. Cloud Technology
Northrop Grumman and the Air Force successfully demonstrated the migration of B-21 ground systems data to a cloud environment in September 2023. This demonstration included the development, deployment and test of B-21 data, including the B-21 digital twin, that will support B-21 operations and sustainment. This robust cloud-based digital infrastructure will result in a more maintainable and sustainable aircraft with lower-cost infrastructure.
6. Agile software upgrades
To meet the evolving threat environment, the B-21 has been designed from day one for rapid upgradability. Unlike earlier generation aircraft, the B-21 will not undergo block upgrades. New technology, capabilities and weapons will be seamlessly incorporated through agile software upgrades and built-in hardware flexibility. This will ensure the B-21 Raider can continuously meet the evolving threat head on for decades to come.
7. B-21 Team
Since contract award in 2015, Northrop Grumman has assembled a nationwide team to design, test and build the world’s most advanced strike aircraft. The B-21 team includes more than 8,000 people from Northrop Grumman, industry partners and the Air Force. The team consists of more than 400 suppliers across 40 states.
8. Named in honor of the Doolittle Raid of World War II
The B-21 Raider is named in honor of the Doolittle Raid of World War II when 80 airmen, led by Lt. Col. James “Jimmy” Doolittle, and 16 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers set off on a mission that changed the course of World War II. The actions of these 80 volunteers were instrumental in shifting momentum in the Pacific theater. This marked the raid as a catalyst to a multitude of future progress in US air superiority from land or sea. The courageous spirit of the Doolittle Raiders is the inspiration behind the name of the B-21 Raider.
9. Empowering strategic deterrence strategy
The B-21 Raider will be the backbone of the US bomber fleet and pivotal to supporting the nation’s strategic deterrence strategy. In addition to its advanced long-range precision strike capabilities that will afford Combatant Commanders the ability to hold any target, anywhere in the world at risk, it has also been designed as the lead component of a larger family of systems that will deliver intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic attack and multi-domain networking capabilities. In a dynamic global security environment, the B-21 will provide the flexibility and deterrence critical to the security of the US and their allies.
10. Long-term affordability
Long-term operations and sustainment affordability has been a B-21 program priority from the start. In partnership with the Air Force, Northrop Grumman team has made maintainability an equally important requirement to stealth performance to ensure they’re driving more affordable, predictable operations and sustainment outcomes.