Northrop Grumman was awarded the low-rate initial production contract for the stealth bomber based on the results of ground and flight tests, a defense official said.
The U.S. Air Force's B-21 Raider stealth bomber has officially moved into low-rate initial production, a Pentagon official has confirmed. [Courtesy: Northrop Grumman]
Key Takeaways:
The U.S. Air Force's B-21 Raider stealth bomber has officially moved into low-rate initial production, as confirmed by a Pentagon official.
This decision follows successful ground and flight tests, including the bomber's first flight in November and a second in January.
Designed for long-range conventional and nuclear missions, the B-21 is slated to replace the aging B-1 and B-2 fleets, with full operational status expected by the mid-2020s.
The Air Force plans to acquire at least 100 B-21s, emphasizing design for production at scale to provide credible deterrence.
