The B-21 Raider, the United States Air Force’s new stealth bomber, is edging closer to active service, with its inaugural flight taking place on November 10, 2022, at Edwards Air Force Base.

This milestone followed its public debut almost a year earlier in California. The B-21 Raider represents the next evolution in deep-strike capabilities, destined to succeed the venerable B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers.

With at least six aircraft currently in various stages of construction or testing, the Raider is now amidst an extensive flight testing program, operated by the Air Force Test Center and the 412th Test Wing’s B-21 Combined Test Force.

Top defense analysts said on Nov. 29 that the B-21 bomber will be essential for various missions in future conflicts. These missions include pathfinding through enemy air defenses, airfield attacks, minelaying, direct conventional attacks, and nuclear deterrence.

They warned that the demand for B-21 bombers could exceed the available aircraft if only the planned 100 are purchased, designed to carry out a multitude of missions, including penetrating strikes with both conventional and nuclear weapons.

While Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota anticipates the arrival of its first Raider other bases like Whiteman in Missouri and Dyess in Texas are also earmarked to house these advanced bombers, with maintenance and sustainment centralized at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.

Despite the anticipation surrounding the B-21, Northrop Grumman, the manufacturer, has indicated that the program is not without its financial and logistical challenges.

Cost estimates for the initial low-rate production are increasing due to inflation, labor difficulties, and persistent supply chain setbacks.

As such, Northrop Grumman forecasts initial losses that could reach up to $1.2 billion without an immediate turn to profitability.

Nonetheless, the first contract for low-rate initial production lots is expected, paving the way for the production phase to advance.

The B-21 Raider prototype flew for the first time on November 10th, 2023, and is set to be inducted into the USAF by 2030. Upon its arrival, it will succeed the Air Force’s B-2 Spirit and B-1 Lancer strategic bombers.

It might also supplant the aging B-52s, with their new Rolls-Royce F130 engines extending their service life into the 2050s.

Christopher Bowie, an author and airpower and national security analyst, stated that the B-21 will be the sole bomber capable of conducting direct strikes on targets deep within China and Russia.

It could also be utilized to neutralize enemy air defenses for other aircraft, target Chinese vessels in a Taiwan conflict, and fulfill various other missions. Additionally, it will serve as a key component of the air leg of the nuclear triad. Bowie mentioned that the multitude of tasks assigned to the B-21 will surpass the available quantity in a short time.

“We should plan to build more than the 100 currently on the books,” Bowie said. “No matter how capable an aircraft, it can only be in one place at one time.” The B-21 will be asked to do so much in a conventional war that if there is a threat the conflict will go nuclear, “this would generate significant dilemmas for our nation’s leaders,” Bowie said. “Do you pull aircraft out of the theater to bolster our nuclear deterrent posture? Or do you to degrade the triad in order to increase operational tempo in conventional operations?”

Relevant articles:
– New in 2024: With first B-21 flight done, Northrop eyes next contract, Defense News
– B-2 Spirit Vs B-21 Raider: What’s Changed?, simpleflying.com
– Airpower Experts: US Needs More than 100 B-21s to Meet Future High Demand, airandspaceforces.com