We support our Publishers and Content Creators. You can view this story on their website by CLICKING HERE.

Key Points and Summary: The B-21 Raider stealth bomber program continues to shine, running on time and within budget. Its successful first flight and subsequent test missions proved promising for both the Air Force and Northrop Grumman, which praised the plane’s digital technology and next-generation design.

-As a dual-role nuclear and conventional bomber, the B-21 will anchor America’s long-range strike, but it’s also designed for ISR and electronic warfare.

-Recent legislation earmarked billions for B-21 procurement and support infrastructure. Despite the program’s momentum, concerns linger over cost (around $692 million each) and the future of other major modernization projects, notably the NGAD sixth-generation fighter.

More Good News in Flight Tests for the B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber

It’s nice to have a new airplane program that is on time and under budget. So far, the B-21 Raider is progressing nicely.

The new platform is being built steadily, and the B-21 stealth bomber took its first flight to excellent effect last spring.

Moreover, the B-21 Raider is advancing along with more sophisticated in-air testing, allowing engineers and designers to have additional evaluation data to crunch. This will improve the overall project.

Northrop Grumman is excited. 

The defense contractor announced in late December that more flight testing had given the B-21 program personnel even greater confidence in the program.

What Is the Defense Contractor Saying?

“The B-21 Raider made significant progress in our flight test campaign this year, continuing to demonstrate the value of our digital technology and the power of the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft,” Northrop Grumman stated. The company gave credit to the U.S. Air Force for its collaboration in advancing the program, and added, “We extend our gratitude to the United States Air Force for their partnership in bringing the B-21 to life,” according to Defence Blog.

In November 2024, an eagle-eyed civilian aircraft observer showed a photo on X of what looked to be a B-21 flying high. It appeared to be gaining altitude with a significant amount of thrust.

Defense Bill Is Kind to the B-21 

The FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act has good news for the B-21. U.S. Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota revealed that he was instrumental in earmarking $2.6 billion for the acquisition of B-21s and $282 million in projects at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota to support the “bed down” of the B-21 there.

Beast with Long Range Strike Capability

The B-21 is a dual-threat stealth bomber that will become the backbone of the aerial piece of the nuclear triad when it enters full-time service in the 2030s. It can deliver conventional munitions and nuclear weapons. The B-21 will play a large role in the “Long Range Strike” concept that the Air Force will employ in the coming years.

The B-21 is also a platform that can collect intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data along with electronic warfare capabilities. The airplane has an open system architecture that will make it easier to update and modernize.

The B-21 Raider was unveiled to the public at a ceremony December 2, 2022 in
Palmdale, Calif. Designed to operate in tomorrow’s high-end threat environment, the B-21 will play a critical role in ensuring America’s enduring airpower capability. (U.S. Air Force photo)

B-21 Raider: How Many and What Will They Cost?

It is widely believed that the Air Force will order 100 B-21s, but defense analysts are advocating for many more B-21s, even doubling that number. 

Sadly, the B-21 does not come cheap. Estimates suggest that each bomber will cost an eye-watering $692 million in average unit procurement cost. 

However, this includes “aircraft flyaway costs, support equipment, training, spares, and engineering change orders,” according to the Air Force official website. 

Could They Be Delivered Sooner?

I am conservative about my estimate for the B-21’s full-time service not happening until the early to mid-2030s.

The B-21 might enter full-time deployment as early as 2026 or 2027. That would be the most optimistic estimate. However, since the program is advancing on schedule, that time frame could be accomplished. 

Of course, further testing and evaluation would be needed to go extremely well with no delays or cost overruns. 

Artist rendering of a B-21 Raider concept in a hangar at Dyess, Air Force Base, Texas, one of the future bases to host the new airframe. (Courtesy photo by Northrop Grumman)

Artist rendering of a B-21 Raider concept in a hangar at Dyess, Air Force Base, Texas, one of the future bases to host the new airframe. (Courtesy photo by Northrop Grumman)

“Overall, I am pleased to see the performance of our test jet. The handling qualities are better than expected coming out of the simulated environment—validating the accuracy of the digital models the team has developed and analyzed over many years,” said Chris “Hoss” Moss, Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider test pilot, in a September interview, noted by the National Interest.

Currently, the only drawback I see with the B-21 is the cost. This makes it difficult to envision a scenario where the Air Force could afford both the B-21 Raider and the Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter or NGAD. 

The NGAD could run as much as $300 million per unit. Due to this expense and its design issues, the current Biden administration has delayed the NGAD program until it gets the go-ahead from the incoming Trump national security team.

The Air Force would love a next-generation bomber and the NGAD, but that may not happen. NGAD could get canceled, and the new fighter did not get a glowing endorsement in the FY 2025 NDAA like the B-21 did.

However, the Air Force should be happy with the progress of the B-21. I love the dual threat conventional-nuclear role and its other capabilities, which include gathering intelligence and its open architecture for further modernization and updates. The cost is high, but it will be a difference-maker in 21st-century warfare.

B-21 Raider. Image Credit: U.S. Air Force.

B-21 Raider. Image Credit: U.S. Air Force.

It is unclear if the service branch can procure both the B-21 and NGAD, though, and tough decisions are ahead for the new Secretary of Defense and the incoming Secretary of the Air Force on whether the United States can afford both airplanes.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.