B-21 Raider Completes 180-Day Test Plan in 73 Days

Northrop Grumman announced that the US Air Force’s next-generation stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider, completed a 180-day test plan in 73 days during a joint process carried out with the US Air Force.

The company stated that half of the planned tasks were completed during this phase and that the program has reached a contract value of $11.8 billion.

Flight test programs in military aviation can be extended due to technical issues, repeated trials, or system integration requirements. In the B-21 Raider program, the current test phase was completed ahead of the planned schedule.

Test activities are being conducted under the Combined Test Force structure, which brings together Northrop Grumman engineers and personnel from the US Air Force’s 412th Test Wing. This structure allows government and contractor teams to manage testing from a single center and supports faster data analysis and mission planning.

Last month, the B-21 Raider also completed in-flight refueling tests with the KC-135 Stratotanker.

The B-21 Raider is a central part of the US Air Force’s future long-range strike strategy. The aircraft is designed to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons and is expected to support the air-based leg of the US nuclear deterrence structure.

The US Air Force plans to acquire at least 100 B-21 Raiders. The latest defense budget allocated $6.1 billion for the program.

• #B-21 Raider
• #Northrop Grumman
• #US Air Force