The Pentagon has released new test footage of the highly anticipated B-21 Raider stealth bomber in flight, offering a glimpse of the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation aircraft.
The footage was revealed during the Air and Space Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference, where military leaders and industry experts shared updates on the bomber’s progress.
A B-21 Raider conducts flight testing, which includes ground testing, taxiing, and flying operations in California. pic.twitter.com/nAZ0V3uTUE
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) September 19, 2024
According to a press release from the U.S. Air Force, the B-21 is set to replace the ageing B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers, becoming the backbone of the Air Force’s strategic bomber fleet. The B-21 will play a critical role as the “air leg” of the nuclear triad, capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions.
The programme is advancing steadily, with William Bailey, Director of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, and Thomas Jones, President of Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems, discussing key milestones. Bailey highlighted the recent completion of a static test on a ground-based asset, which confirmed the aircraft’s structural integrity. The B-21 is now undergoing fatigue testing to assess its durability further.
Jones noted the increased pace of testing, with two flight tests being conducted each week. He stressed that the goal is to make the B-21 a reliable, “daily flyer” to meet the Air Force’s global strike requirements.
The aircraft’s adaptability and flexibility were key points of discussion, with Bailey emphasising that the B-21 has been designed to remain versatile in response to evolving global threats.
Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota will be the first operational base for the B-21 Raider, followed by Whiteman AFB in Missouri and Dyess AFB in Texas. The U.S. Air Force aims to produce at least 100 B-21 bombers in the coming years as it transitions from its legacy aircraft to this new stealth platform.
General Thomas Bussiere, Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, spoke about the bomber’s significance in maintaining the U.S. strategic advantage: “Nobody on the planet can do what we’re doing right now. Nobody on the planet can build an exquisite, technologically advanced platform like the B-21.”
“ right now. Nobody on the planet can build an exquisite, technologically advanced platform like the B-21.”
Isn’t that an arrogant statement?
I’m not sure that Tempest would be that far behind – it could even be in front – technologically. Why NIH mindset.
American MIC does groupthink on a grand scale with inevitable circular reinforcement of ideas.
With a small scale collaboration of equals Tempest benefits from the cross fertilisation of ideas. As well as a more recent start. As well as no attempts to recycle B1 or B2 tech into the B21.
I think there is a fine line between supreme confidence and culture and arrogance. If you stay on the right side of it, it can be incredibly powerful.
I’ll give you an example. My experience of the Parachute Regiment on career courses. All of them, to a man, believed that the Paras are the best conventional infantry on the planet. But what it meant, was that they felt that every day they had to live up to that. They strove to be better, in fitness, weapons drills, everything. And it showed on the courses.
There were excellent soldiers in every regiment. The difference was that their ‘S?@t soldiers were better.
Personally, I think the US is on the right side of the line. They believe they are better, but it makes them strive to continue to be better.
Although I’m not sure it works so well with their surface warship fleet…I have a nasty suspicion they may have slipped over the arrogance line and right into hubris..which is not good considering that last three surface warships they designed and built have been abject failures..that they are dependent on knocking out a 40 year old destroyer design that’s been updated 3 times and trying to work up a European frigate buy but butchering a very well designed frigate.
Careful, do not denigrate the USN excessively, they may become a customer of UK PLC in the foreseeable future. Everyone in the US knows (or believes) the customer is always right. 😉😁
Yes but you just know that if the USN ordered T26..they would load it up with every conceivable weapon and sensor know to US industry…and it would end up weighing in at 15,000 tons..cost 8 times more than baseline and as such only be ordered in a quarter of the number needed..unless it was cancelled at ship 1-3….someone needs to take the senior decision makers around a Oliver Hazard Perry and go…look see these were fine and we had 50 of them…could we just have something like this updated please.
If the Consternation class program founders as some predict and many fear, there may be a back pocket USN Plan Bravo available. It is remotely possible that some 3-ltr USN office has been tasked w/ monitoring the development of both RAN Hunter class and RCN River class. Either variant probably has most of the options the USN desires (rather like a new car purchase). Perhaps the USN will suggest a co-development program at a mutually convenient point, or simply expropriate the design in the name of allied unity (Surprise, BOHICA! 😁) 🤔😳
The Ford class is the most powerful surface warship ever put into service, and I can assure you it is not an “abject failure”.
👍👍 Predict significantly smoother sailing (both in terms of further development and build process) for ships 2-4 of the class.
🤔🤞🤞😊
Tempest might end up being technologically superior to the B-21, but their point was that the B-21 is unmatched right now. The B-21 is due to enter service the same year the Tempest technology demonstrator (not the Tempest itself) takes its first flight. I’d call that being ahead.
Being ahead in the one horse race to have an intercontinental heavy bomber?
Solving the problems is so much easier with more space and weight carrying ability as a % of all up weight.
Or the Tempest may never eventuate. I’m guessing it will, but I’m also guessing that like the Typhoon, it will be a generation behind what the US will have. It’s still a stretch to believe that countries which have never designed and built a 5th gen can just jump to a world-leading 6th gen.
Hopefully, USAF has a lessons learned file derived from F-35, KC-46 program(me) experience. Agree, perhaps an unguarded statement by the general. Much better to indulge in humble bragging after the program(me) is an a acknowledged success. 🤔😳😊
Good Grief! There are six B-21 aircraft on the ground in hangars. The USAF has finalized a contract for Low Rate Initial Production with the first 21 aircraft ordered. Tempest is a concept with unsecured funding that hasn’t even produced a protype aircraft yet it’s somehow in front technologically of the B-21.
Hmmme
Well the Tempest tech demonstrator is getting quite advanced in build now. Test flying isn’t that far away.
Inevitably once you have a design freeze tech starts to age – a bit like the processor on F35B that are way out of today’s tech window. It is just a question of when that freeze takes place.
Principal concern, post F-35 program, may be software development and integration process. Hopefully, USAF has incorporated lessons learned from F-35 debacle, but believe it is premature to declare victory. IOC would seem an appropriate time to pop the champagne cork
Before anyone asks…no, we cannot have any!
Flying wing Tempest variant?
Pleeeeaaassse?
😳
As a UAV I’d have thought?
There were I believe other US flying wings flying about late 80s on that are still black and were never acknowledged.
Look up the TR3A. It was filmed in New Mexico albiet at dusk and just a glimpse.
If your interested in UK “Black” stuff, which is of course extremely limited compared to the US, Warton is said to have flown some interesting things from their SPTS, which if your interested looking on GE is at the south eastern side of the airfield.
Black world aviation is another of my interests.
Although Farnborough was our skunk works back in 90s.
Yes. The RAE in the 80s. Then DRA, then DERA. Though the interesting stuff I understand did not take place at Farnborough, but at Boscombe and possibly Bedford.
UAVs are so boooring
Just going in a straight line, dropping a bomb and leaving, no glamour at all.
What we need is a tempest with massive blended wings, about twice as wide, for stupidly improved range.
Evening SB, something like a Vulcan of old? I’d like to see a twin engined F35B – 2E….or a beefed up F35B-C maybe with the wing of the F35C…..lol 😁
How about Tempest with the Rolls Royce liftfan shenanigans from F35?
V/STOL 6th gen… à la Hawker P.1154
🤪 😆
If it happens in a decades time we’ll know you went far with BAES.
I’ll be only a few years out of Uni then, so very far, very fast.
I like Quentin’s comparison with Vulcan, it isn’t too far off in role.
Add in DaveyB’s comment about nuclear FC/ASW and we complete the set.
Love the Vulcan.
Yes, we made strategic bombers too once. They were dying out in the RAF when I first started following military stuff, with Victors as Tankers and the last Vulcans bombing Stanley then I think going on to being tankers themselves for a short time.
BAE should unmerge and turn back into the big old defence companies, at least in brand.
Hawker build fighter jets, Bristol do everything else and Vickers do shipbuilding.
Hi DM. TR3A, that is fascinating! I had no idea, thanks for sharing this .
At first glance, the B21 look a lot like a B2!
Morning mate.
You hadn’t heard if it? Ok, you’ve some catching up to do, as reports, stories, rumours go back to the 80s on that type.
I suggest:
Look up Steve Douglas. He’s the guy who has,had a hobby of chasing Black world stuff, like Bill Sweetman. Where Sweet man is a journo and book writer, Douglas followed military aviation around N Mexico with a frequency scanner.
Has tried to get to bottom of Aurora too.
He, I think it was, has camped out on Freedom Ridge with v high power optics.
If you didn’t know, that mountain, while still some miles away, gives a view info Groom. It is one place the USAF hasn’t taken as part of the 1980s land grab around Groom to prevent onlookers, hence the name spotters give it.
Incidently, one day they saw what they called the “fast mover” taking off from up there. Aurora, who knows? Some thing being tested.
Conveniently, the DoD, USAF then went and placed a comms facility of some kind on top of that mountain, complete with cameras!
All too convenient. Any spotters about, delay test flights of anything sensitive.
I’d also suggest you start by looking up the Desert Rat site that keeps tabs on Area 51, Groom Lake stuff, which Douglas runs. The link to his film and description of how it happened is/was there. I’ve only seen the film clip once, showing a manta ray type flying over his position one night in N Mexico in the early 90s.
Allegedly, the type was developed alongside the F117 to act as a spotter, reconn type, which allegedly it did in the 1st Gulf War. Linked to this, I have a fascinating article which was in one of the aviation websites, interviewing a retired USAF boom operator, who was with the KC Sqn that is dedicated to Black
Aircraft, Groom, Palmdale, Edwards, and so on. He confirms he himself refuelled in his career types that are still classified. When he was out in the Gulf for GW1, he saw one type in operation, which to me is a reference to the TR3A.
TR3A may or may not be the crafts official designation, as USAF have for years seemingly played a shell game, with reported black programs called “Tier3” so what was the early Blackstar UAV, so Tier3 and TR3 said aloud sound similar. Muddies the waters somewhat.
I think it was the War Zone who some years back did a great article on the history of ISTAR UAV development, where the manned TR3A, even if it only existed as a test aircraft or in limited numbers, paved the way for the Black world UAVs today, Blackstar, which went on to Sentinel ( the “Beast of Kandahar” which the Iranians forced down” ) to another alleged type again called Tier 3 that the USAF deemed so secret one quote was “if it came down they’d bomb that country back to the stone age to protect the tech” through to the flying wing RQ180 which again Douglas has filmed.
Persistent manned or unmanned stealth surveillance, an area shrouded in secrecy compared to the F117s development history. The War Zone piece was convincing in their argument that, if TR3A never existed, well it bloody well should have in the development timeline.
Groom is the usual place people automatically think of the this stuff. I think in reality Tonopah up the road is where some of this stuff operates, like when Have Blue became the F117 and operated from there in the 80s.
Finally….maybe linked, maybe not, the Boscombe Down crash of 1994.
Airforces Monthly did a detailed piece here, its still online ( i have an original copy )
Some thing occurred that night with a classified type on take off, and some report the TR3A was involved, and others say it was actually a Northrop aircraft, so not a Skunk works one, referred to as AV6, Air Vehicle 6. AV6 is also sometimes reported as ASTRA, and close likeness to the rejected Northrop YF23, an amazing plane, where USAF chose the YF22, so F22, instead.
The MoD say the incident was only a GR4 from A&AEE with a faulty trailing decoy which caused them to close the A303…
I beg to differ, but do read the story online if you’ve not seen it.
Sorry for going off on one, Black stuff is another of my many interests!
I’d love to live out in NM or California, I’d be out looking myself. 😏 Sadly…I only have the skies of Surrey, and we don’t get much tested round here!
H Daniele
Mate thanks so much for posting such detail- this is real gold! I’m looking forward to exploring something new and exciting. My knowledge is limited to the F117(and I recall there were rumours of an F19 in the 80’s).😆 I do though recall that Sentinel Iran incident .
So this a real treat, thanks again!
Ok mate. Meant to add, TR3A gets the nickname “Black Manta”
The F19 stories were I recall speculation about the F117, people were guessing the progression beyond F14 , F15, F16, F18, and went for F19.
Awww, but please sir.
Ah, somewhat difficult to predict the geopolitical/threat environment too far into the future. Who knows, there may be a future “Strategic Bomber Command” in the RAF’s future. A squadron or a wing of B-21(B,C or D) may seem very reassuring to a future PM. 😁
Hmmm…probably at least one too many “future” references in that post…🙄
Morning mate you must of read my mind 😏
Very nice indeed , so can we have the B-1 Lancer it’s better than going to the Bone yard 😏 🇬🇧