B-21 Flight Testing, Production ‘Continues to Make Progress,’ Air Force Says

Test pilots report the jet is performing as expected with the aircraft flying like the simulator, Northrop Grumman said.

Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 03:55 PM ET

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A B-21 Raider conducts ground testing, taxiing, and flying operations at Edwards Air Force Base, California. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force reports the B-21 Raider is making "good progress" in its flight test program and has entered low-rate production.
Test pilots indicate the aircraft is performing as expected, flying consistently with its digital simulator.
Currently, six B-21 bombers are in various stages of final assembly and testing.
The B-21 is designed to be the backbone of the U.S. Air Force's bomber fleet, replacing older models and achieving full operational status by the mid-2020s.

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The B-21 Raider “continues to make progress” in flight testing and production, the U.S. Air Force said Wednesday.

The stealth strike bomber was unveiled in December 2022 and officially moved into low-rate production earlier this year. In January, Northrop Grumman said six B-21 bombers are in various stages of final assembly and testing at its facility in Palmdale, California.