US Air Force's B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber Takes First Test Flight

The Next-Generation Aircraft, Developed by Northrop Grumman, is Part of Pentagon's Efforts to Modernize Nuclear Triad Amid Global Military Modernization

The US Air Force's B-21 Raider, a next-generation stealth bomber developed by Northrop Grumman, has completed its first test flight. The aircraft is capable of disguising itself as other objects to spoof enemy air defenses.
The B-21 Raider is the successor to the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and is expected to be more advanced and capable of surviving in future conflicts. The Air Force plans to build 100 of these planes, which can be flown with or without pilots.
The B-21 Raider is part of the Pentagon's efforts to modernize its nuclear triad in response to global military modernization. The aircraft is expected to play a crucial role in deterring aggression and strategic attacks against the United States and its allies.
The B-21 Raider was initially due to make its first flight in 2021, but production was delayed due to the Covid pandemic and the global economic slowdown following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The B-21 Raider is expected to greatly advance U.S. air power, capable of striking targets anywhere around the globe. It is also hoped it will be an asset in military deterrence for regions with heightened tensions with Russia and China.
The cost of each B-21 Raider aircraft is estimated at $750 million, compared to the almost $2 billion price tag of its predecessor, the B-2 Spirit. The Senate Armed Services Committee voted not to release the cost of the project, despite objections.