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B-21 still makes ‘good progress’ towards possible first flight this year

16th September 2022 - 14:00 GMT | by Jason Sherman in New York

RSS

Artist’s impression of the B-21 Raider bomber being developed by Northrop Grumman. (Image: Northrop Grumman)

The USAF says the B-21 Raider bomber — currently in the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase — is on track for initial deliveries in the mid-2020s.

The B-21 Raider next-generation long-range strike aircraft programme for the USAF is progressing towards a first flight – possibly this year – as well as initial production, backed by a nearly $30 billion commitment in the Pentagon’s spending plan and the confidence of senior leaders.

As a Special Access Program (and a follow-on platform to the B-2 stealth bomber), key details regarding the B-21 are exempt from the usual disclosures required of all big-ticket weapon systems; but DoD officials have outlined recent developments in broad terms.

‘The B-21 is making good progress,’ Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said

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