WASHINGTON DC – The US Air Force’s secretive stealth nuclear bomber is flying through testing, literally, with new images showing the aircraft in flight.
The B-21 Raider was unveiled in December 2022, but the government has so far been discreet about showing off the cutting-edge aircraft.
In pictures released on Wednesday, the sleek aircraft is shown flying for the first time as it undergoes flight testing – after which a minimum of a hundred will be built.
The B-21 is a dual-capable bomber, able to deliver both conventional and nuclear munitions.
The bomber is named for an important landmark in US military history. Its ‘Raider’ nickname is derived from the 1942 Doolittle Raid, when Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle lead a volunteer force of bombers for the first offensive against Tokyo and the Japanese islands during World War II.
Earlier this month on May 8, during testimony at the Senate Armed Services committee, Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics, highlighted B-21 flight testing is on track to meet timelines and deliver to the warfighter.
“We are in the flight test programme, the flight test programme is proceeding well,’ he said in response to a question about the B-21 programme. ‘It is doing what flight test programmes are designed to do, which is helping us learn about the unique characteristics of this platform, but in a very, very effective way.”
Hunter explained this is the first aircraft that is more digital than not, which contributes to the programme meeting requirements.
The B-21 is a long-range, highly survivable, penetrating strike stealth bomber that will incrementally replace the B-1 and B-2 bombers and will play a major role supporting national security objectives and assuring US allies and partners across the globe.
This story appeared in MSN
