The test flight from Edwards Air Force Base represents the first publicly confirmed munition release for the next-generation aircraft, though the military withheld specific weapon details and imagery. Testing over the past year has also evaluated critical operational capabilities, including mid-air refueling and a dedicated flight by an operational test pilot in June. Developed by Northrop Grumman under a 2015 contract, the bomber is designed to eventually carry payloads such as the developmental AGM-181A Long Range Stand-Off cruise missile. The Air Force intends to acquire at least 100 units to replace older bombers.
Key points
The Air Force intends to procure at least 100 B-21 bombers to form the backbone of its st…: The Air Force intends to procure at least 100 B-21 bombers to form the backbone of its strike fleet.
Operational deployment of the flying-wing aircraft will eventually lead to the retirement…: Operational deployment of the flying-wing aircraft will eventually lead to the retirement of both the B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit.
The two-pilot bomber is engineered to penetrate modern air defenses to deliver both conve…: The two-pilot bomber is engineered to penetrate modern air defenses to deliver both conventional and nuclear weapons.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Designed to penetrate some of the world's most advanced air-defence systems and deliver devastating strikes deep inside enemy territory, America's next-generation stealth bomber has taken a crucial step towards becoming a combat-ready platform.
The B-21 Raider has released its first conventional weapon in a landmark test. The milestone brings the US Air Force closer to deploying a new generation of long-range strike capabilities.
The US department of the air force announced the development on Friday, saying the B-21 test aircraft conducted the weapon-release exercise from Edwards Air Force Base in California. The test marked the first publicly confirmed weapon release by the next-generation stealth bomber.
The B-21's weapons testing comes as the US air force continues to expand the scope of the bomber's flight-test programme. According to TWZ, testing over the past year has increasingly focused on validating operational capabilities, including the aircraft's ability to refuel in mid-air. The service has also moved ahead with preparations for operational missions, with two pilots expected to crew the aircraft. An operational test pilot flew a B-21 for the first time in June,…
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