Overview
- The Department of the Air Force and Northrop Grumman confirmed that a B-21 flying from Edwards Air Force Base released a conventional weapon during a test in the first week of November, moving the program from flight-science work into weapons testing.
- Officials said thousands of hours of virtual modeling in the B-21’s digital twin predicted and refined the weapon’s trajectory and validated the aircraft’s open systems architecture.
- Northrop Grumman described the event as proof the Raider can carry and employ combat power and credited faster aircraft turnaround and aerial refueling tests this year for accelerating the test campaign.
- Industry expansion is under way to meet production goals: Northrop opened a 265,000 sq ft plant in Layton, Utah, and has broken ground on a larger final assembly site at Plant 42 in Palmdale to support deliveries.
- Public releases withheld technical specifics such as the munition type and imagery, and the program will be tracked for follow-up on exact test details, the revised fleet-size plan and the first aircraft arrival at Ellsworth AFB in 2027.