B-21 Raider stealth strategic bomber completes its second confirmed flight.

The B-21 Raider, the United States' latest bomber aircraft, completed its second confirmed flight on January 17, 2024, at Edwards Air Force Base in California. This milestone comes just over two months after its inaugural flight.
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The B-21 Raider in Palmdale (Picture source: Northrop Grumman)

The Air Force officially acknowledged the test flight following reports from aviation trackers who observed potential chase planes on flight tracking websites. Notably, this is the first documented instance of the Raider taking off from Edwards; its maiden flight on November 10, 2023, originated from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, and concluded at Edwards.

For operational security reasons, the Air Force has chosen not to disclose further details regarding the test program, including the total number of flights conducted. Additionally, the service declined to verify if the B-21 aircraft that took flight on January 17 was the same one used in the inaugural flight in November. Northrop Grumman, the manufacturer, had previously indicated that six aircraft were in various stages of production.

The B-21 Raider was unveiled to the public during a ceremony on December 2, 2022, in Palmdale, California. However, since then, the Air Force has maintained a low profile regarding the aircraft. There have been no prior announcements for test flights, and no official images were released for this latest test. Apart from its public debut in December 2022 and a few photos released in September 2023, the bomber has been largely concealed from the public eye, although some civilian photographers managed to capture images during taxi tests and the initial flight.

The B-21 Raider is a developmental bomber designed for penetrating strikes and is capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. It has a projected wingspan of approximately 140 feet, which is smaller than the B-2's 172-foot wingspan. The Air Force intends to procure at least 100 B-21s to replace its aging fleet of 45 B-1s and 20 B-2s over the next decade.

It is manufactured in the United States by Northrop Grumman, a major player in the aerospace and defense industry. Its primary role as a stealth strategic bomber is to provide the United States Air Force (USAF) with an advanced strike capability capable of penetrating deep into enemy defenses while remaining undetectable thanks to its stealth technology.

The Air Force had previously stated that B-21 test aircraft would become "usable assets" as soon as they achieve airworthiness. After completing developmental and operational testing, these test aircraft will be converted into operational configurations.

The contract for the B-21 was awarded in 2015, and the estimated cost of each aircraft is around $700 million in current dollars. In 2016, the aircraft was officially named the "Raider" in honor of the Doolittle Raiders of World War II, who carried out the first airstrikes against Japan.