Inaugural Flight of the New Strategic Bomber B-21 Raider in the US
On Friday, November 10, the first test flight of the American stealth strategic bomber B-21 Raider, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, took place. The test flight occurred in Palmdale, California, as reported by The Drive.
"B-21 Raider is undergoing flight tests. They are a crucial stage in the testing campaign led by the US Air Force Test Center and the 412th Combined Test Group B-21. The aircraft aims to provide deterrence against aggression and strategic attacks on the United States, its allies, and partners," said US Air Force spokesperson Anne Stefanek.
B-21 Raider is the first new American bomber in the last 30 years. Virtually all aspects of this program are classified. In terms of wing design, the new aircraft resembles its predecessor, the B-2 Spirit. However, the new model incorporates advanced materials, power systems, and stealth technologies, making the bombers more resilient in future conflicts. Additionally, the aircraft will be produced in two variants: piloted and unmanned.
The first B-21 is expected to commence full flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base shortly, with other pre-production models joining to form a unified test group. Currently, five bombers are at various stages of production at Northrop Grumman's facility. Overall, the US Air Force plans to build 100 such aircraft.
Both Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force are taking measures to safeguard program details, preventing China from gaining access to technological information that could enable them to build similar versions of the B-21, as seen with other advanced American defense systems like the F-35.
In a related development, the Netherlands will transfer 18 F-16 fighter jets to Romania for the training of Ukrainian pilots before the New Year. The initial number was anticipated to range from 12 to 18, but the Dutch Ministry of Defense decided to send all 18 fighter jets for the training of Ukrainian pilots. The first five Dutch F-16 fighters have already arrived at the European F-16 Training Center in Romania, and Ukrainian pilots are expected to begin training on the F-16 early next year.