B-21 Raider Takes First Flight

The stealth bomber is officially in flight testing, the Air Force confirms.

Kimberly Johnson

Friday, November 10, 2023 at 12:50 PM ET

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Northrop Grumman's B-21 [Courtesy: Northrop Grumman]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force's B-21 Raider stealth bomber has successfully completed its first flight, marking a critical step in its development.
Flight testing, led by Edwards Air Force Base, is underway to ensure its survivable, long-range, penetrating strike capabilities for deterrence.
The B-21 Raider is designed for both conventional and nuclear missions and is slated to replace the aging B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit fleets by the mid-2020s.
Northrop Grumman is manufacturing six test aircraft, with Ellsworth Air Force Base designated as its first main operating base and training unit.

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The U.S. Air Force’s top-secret B-21 Raider stealth bomber has conducted its first flight.

The stealth bomber, which was unveiled by Northrop Grumman to the public in December and confirmed by the service to be undergoing taxi testing last month, had long been projected to make its first flight by the end of the year. That met deadline was confirmed Friday when freelance journalist Matt Hartman posted a video of an aloft B-21 on X, formerly known as Twitter.