On a recent Thursday, the U.S. Air Force disclosed that the second B-21 Raider has arrived at Edwards Air Force Base in California, enhancing its testing capabilities for this advanced stealth bomber.

Now that Edwards houses two B-21 aircraft, the Air Force is prepared to advance into more sophisticated testing stages, which include the integration of weapons systems and critical mission functionalities. Previously, the focus was mainly on basic flight performance assessments.

“The arrival of the second B-21 Raider significantly boosts our flight testing efforts,” stated Air Force Secretary Troy Meink. “This allows us to accelerate the essential evaluations of its mission systems and weapons capabilities, which are crucial for the strategic deterrence and combat roles envisioned for the aircraft.”

Northrop Grumman, the manufacturer of the B-21, claims it is the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft, capable of deploying both nuclear and conventional payloads. Its advanced stealth technology is designed to execute deep penetration strikes in adversarial territories.

Named in tribute to the World War II Doolittle Raiders, the B-21 is set to replace the older B-1B Lancer and B-2A Spirit bombers. The Air Force’s future plans involve operating a fleet comprising at least 100 B-21s and 76 upgraded B-52J Stratofortresses.

The unveiling of the first B-21 by the Air Force and Northrop Grumman occurred at a Palmdale, California facility in December 2022. By November 2023, this bomber had been relocated to Edwards as Northrop Grumman pressed on with the construction of more units under a low-rate initial production regime.

With two B-21s now at Edwards, the maintenance team gains valuable hands-on experience with these bombers. Training will cover efficient management of simultaneous repair and maintenance operations, testing the effectiveness of maintenance tools, mastering technical data usage, and understanding logistical processes.

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This development will quicken the pace at which the B-21 reaches operational readiness, according to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin.

“Adding a second B-21 to our testing program hastens its introduction to the field,” Allvin explained. “With more resources in the testing phase, we can deliver this capability to our fighters more swiftly, underlining the urgency of our modernization efforts.”

Furthermore, the Air Force plans to initiate significant construction projects in fiscal 2026 at all three designated B-21 bases: Ellsworth in South Dakota, Whiteman in Missouri, and Dyess in Texas.

“The B-21 Raider project is pivotal in our strategic nuclear modernization efforts,” Allvin remarked. “Our concurrent focus on testing, readiness for sustainment, and infrastructure development clearly demonstrates our commitment to equipping our forces with unparalleled capabilities to deter and overcome future threats.”