B21 Next Generation Stealth Bomber First Flight Test Should Be Weeks Away

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The B21 next generation stealth bomber is only a few months behind schedule for a 2023 first test flight. This means we are about 4 to 16 weeks away from the first test flight. The prototype B21’s have already had engines turned on and runway taxi tests performed.

The white B-21 is using the latest in radar absorbing technology. They are likely to prevent passive detection systems from finding the stealth bomber.

The US has about 18-21 B-2 bombers still in operation.

Six B-21 test aircraft are currently in production at USAF’s Plant 42 facility in Palmdale, California, under the engineering and manufacturing development phase.

It is expected that there will eventually be about 100 B-21’s built. After the first flight the B21 will go into low -rate production for the next six years or so. This will likely mean about 20-30 built over the next six years. 100 to 145 B-21s will replace 45 B-1s and 20 B-2s over the next decade or so.

The increased number of less detectable B-21 could increase the number of possible deep strikes per day from about six per day to dozens or even a hundred per day.

An undetectable stealth bomber is able to destroy air defenses, so that detectable bombers can follow up to wreck an enemy.

In 2022, there was talk of accelerating production.

The B-21 is smaller than the B2 with about half of the bomb payload. It will have more range. It could have 9000 miles or more of range to surpass the 6800 mile range of the B2 and the 8800 mile range of the B52.

Air and space forces has a graphic describing the B21.

The B-21 has been made with modular sections and open system design. This means it will be easy to upgrade and to have different weapon options.

6 thoughts on “B21 Next Generation Stealth Bomber First Flight Test Should Be Weeks Away”

  1. I had a B-2 fly over me at an air show years ago. Very cool but also very spooky. It’s the only moment in my life where I felt like I was in the presence of alien technology. It was SILENT and was only about 1/4 mile away flying at eye level (I was on top of a ~40 story building).

  2. I for one am rather pleased by this. That the US Air Force is actively designing, testing and now in production of a new B–21 super-stealth bomber is rather good news. That it is smaller, stealthier and of longer mission range, all bonuses.

    There was another article about how souped up drones are being manufactured to ‘accompany’ F–22 missions. Clearing the way, acting as kamikazes, whatever. Kind of expensive at that, but with no pilot-limited vectoring accelerations limits, they ought to be quite nimble in the face of counter-fire. Again, good stuff.

    To DEREK, positioning hypersonics as crucial, I say “maybe”. Maybe more for strike drones, than personnel carrying aircraft. Mach 5+ strike drones, even if by hypersonics design realities are significantly limited in payload, even so it seems that they would be the nearly perfect non-expendable aircraft to carry out pinpoint ‘out-of-nowhere’ missions. And … the kinetic value of lobbing guided missiles at hypersonic speeds also cannot be overstated. Mach 7 to 10 missiles are essentially impossible to counter. Gives fire-and-forget new meaning.

    Anyway, if only the military-industrial complex could produce these things at lower cost. It is bizarre how expensive the B–2 and now B–21 aircraft are, on a unit basis.

  3. Our arms are useless with out a leader ,who is willing to use them. Biden would mildly object if the Russians landed in Maryland.
    Our system is broken if we get these two as choices

      • RC – I haven’t watched Fox News in 10 years, But I understand Paul’s complaint. After all, it was Biden who let the Chinese slowing float an airship over the US, and didn’t destroy it until it finished it’s mission.

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