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Aircraft · Air

B-21 Raider

Northrop Grumman stealth strategic bomber for the U.S. Air Force.

by Northrop Grumman · Unveiled Dec 2, 2022

PrototypeAircraftAirFirst flightNov 10, 2023
northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/air/b-21-raider
The B-21 Raider at its 2022 unveiling in a hangar at Air Force Plant 42

Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua M. Carroll · Public domain (PD-USGov-Military-Air Force) · Source photograph is black and white. Resized and reencoded as WebP without additional crop or retouching.

Milestones20222023
  1. UnveiledB-21 Raider unveiled in Palmdale, confirmed
  2. First flightFirst flight, reported

Nuclear-capable, penetrating stealth bomber built by Northrop Grumman as the U.S. Air Force's next strategic bomber; unveiled in December 2022 and in flight test since November 2023.

Timeline2

  1. UnveiledConfirmed

    B-21 Raider unveiled in Palmdale

    The Defense Department and Northrop Grumman revealed the bomber at a ceremony in Palmdale, California.

    SourcesU.S. Department of War (DOD News)

  2. First flightReported

    First flight

    The first B-21 flew from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale to Edwards Air Force Base.

    SourcesAir & Space Forces Magazine

Solid entries are confirmed, outlined reported, dashed estimated or still to come; dotted italic entries are speculative. Dates show only the precision the sources give.

Sources3

  1. 1.
    NewsNew B-21 Bomber Takes First Flight

    Air & Space Forces Magazine · Nov 10, 2023 · Supports: System milestone

    “An Air Force spokesperson confirmed reports by individuals watching from outside the gates that the aircraft took off at approximately 7 a.m. local time and landed at Edwards at approximately 8:30 a.m. local time.”
  2. 2.
    Government recordWorld Gets First Look at B-21 Raider

    U.S. Department of War (DOD News) · Dec 3, 2022 · Supports: System, System milestone

    “It is nuclear capable and designed to accommodate manned or unmanned operations.”
  3. 3.
    CompanyB-21 Raider

    Northrop Grumman · Supports: System

    “The B-21 Raider will be capable of penetrating the toughest defenses to deliver precision strikes anywhere in the world.”

Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.