A second B-21 Raider test aircraft arrived at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Thursday, military officials said, as the Pentagon moves quickly to test the advanced nuclear-capable bombers.
According to the Air Force, the arrival of a second test aircraft at Edwards will allow military personnel to move beyond the initial set of flight performance checks to more advanced aircraft tests, including those involving critical mission systems and weapons integration.
Such tests are critical before the service receives fully operational versions of the B-21, which is built by top defense contractor Northrop Grumman.
“The addition of a second B-21 to the flight test program accelerates the path to fielding,” the Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. David Allvin, stated. “By having more assets in the test environment, we bring this capability to our warfighters faster, demonstrating the urgency with which we’re tackling modernization.”
The B-21 is seen as a critical component of the Air Force’s modernization and future capabilities. Northrop Grumman describes the aircraft as a “an unrivaled stealth bomber,” one capable of operating in extreme weather conditions and virtually any environment.
The aircraft can carry either conventional or nuclear payloads, implying that it will play an important role in the military’s larger push to modernize its nuclear capabilities. General Allvin referred to the B-21 as “a cornerstone of our strategic nuclear modernization.”
Personnel will work at Edwards, near Lancaster in Los Angeles County, to manage simultaneous aircraft sustainment operations while also testing the effectiveness of maintenance tools, technical data, and logistical processes that will support future operational squadrons, according to the service.
Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota is set to receive the first fully operational B-21 Raiders. Northrop Grumman stated that it is developing comprehensive training capabilities, including high-fidelity, full-motion simulators, immersive labs, and virtual spaces at the base.
