A video published on Twitter shows what is believed to be the first flight of the sixth-generation stealth bomber B-21 Raider.
+ Click here to see the video
The B-21 is the next evolution of the strategic bomber fleet of the US Air Force and the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft to take to the skies.
In terms of delivering the United States’ resolve, the Raider will provide the Air Force with long range, high survivability, and mission payload flexibility. The B-21 will penetrate the most difficult defenses to carry out precision strikes anywhere in the world. Here is what you need to know about the B-21 Raider from Northrop Grumman as it continues flight testing.
The B-21 Raider is setting standards for sixth-generation technology. On the outside, the latest stealth technology and advancements in low-observable processes will make the aircraft easier and less costly to maintain than previous systems. Inside, the B-21’s open architecture will allow for rapid upgrades, from new weapons integration to software updates, thanks to advanced networking capabilities and successful migration to the cloud environment. With these innovations, the B-21 is designed to confront evolving threats over the coming decades.
The B-21 Raider is vital for supporting our nation’s strategic deterrence strategy. Beyond its advanced long-range precision strike capabilities that will give Combatant Commanders the ability to keep any target, anywhere in the world, at risk, it is designed as the principal component of a larger family of systems that will provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, electronic attack, and multi-domain network capabilities. In a dynamic global security environment, the B-21 will provide the flexibility and deterrence critical to the security of the US and our allies.
The B-21 Raider is named in honor of the Doolittle Raid of World War II, when 80 airmen led by Lieutenant Colonel James “Jimmy” Doolittle and 16 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers embarked on a mission that changed the course of the war.
The attack was a catalyst for a host of future advancements in US air superiority and serves as inspiration behind the Raider name and the pioneering and innovative spirit instilled in the entire workforce bringing the B-21 to life.
Source: Northrop Grumman
Photo and video: reproduction Twitter @ShorealoneFilms