B‑21 raider: New footage reveals accelerated testing phases
Tests of the American B-21 bomber are gaining momentum. The U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman are accelerating work on both ground tests and flight tests to ensure that the aircraft can be deployed before the end of this decade. According to The War Zone, the bomber sometimes takes to the skies as often as twice a week. The U.S. Air Force has just released new official footage from one of these B-21 test flights.
7:01 PM EDT, September 19, 2024
Americans are doing everything to ensure that the B-21 Raider bombers, which are set to replace the aging fleet of B-1B and B-2 Spirit bombers, are introduced into service before the end of 2023. Recently, information emerged that in addition to Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, where the first aircraft will arrive, the future bombers will also be stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. The Americans plan to deploy one hundred of these aircraft, but discussions are ongoing about the possibility of increasing that number.
B-21 raider - Americans test the machines
The latest footage, released by the U.S. Air Force, shows additional flight trials of the B-21 bomber. It is worth noting that it first took to the skies in early November 2023. Since then, intensive work related to its development has been conducted. The footage can be viewed below:
B-21 raider - the bomber of the future
The B-21 Raider is a bomber utilizing stealth technology, which includes a range of solutions to make its detection by available observation and reconnaissance means difficult. The aircraft is designed to operate undetected by radar systems. Two Pratt & Whitney engines power it and can reach speeds up to 620 mph. Thanks to its design, the B-21 Raider can operate at altitudes up to 49,000 feet and has a range of up to 6,835 miles. The bomber is equipped to carry various types of armaments, including both conventional and nuclear weapons.
Stealth technology and the ability to cover long distances complement its capacity to carry both conventional and nuclear arsenals, making the B-21 a powerful weapon for the U.S. Manufacturers claim that the new bomber will be able to penetrate the most challenging enemy air defenses to deliver precise strikes anywhere in the world. Additionally, the B-21 is expected to be one of the main components of the American nuclear triad (alongside submarines and intercontinental ballistic missiles) in the future, forming a nuclear deterrent system against enemies.
