The US Air Force (USAF) plans to deploy its first B-21 Raider stealth bomber to Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota slightly earlier than originally planned, with the first aircraft expected to arrive in 2027, according to an interview Air Force Secretary Troy Meink gave to Air & Space Forces Magazine.
Rather than waiting for a newly built aircraft, the Air Force will transfer one of the two B-21s currently undergoing flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The bomber will continue supporting testing while also allowing operational units to begin preparing for the aircraft's introduction.
Related news
Meink said the service wants frontline personnel to start learning how to operate and maintain the B-21 as early as possible, helping accelerate the transition from development to operational service.
The B-21 made its maiden flight in November 2023 and remains in an extensive flight-test campaign. Earlier this year, the Air Force confirmed the bomber had begun aerial refueling tests, while an operational pilot recently flew the aircraft alongside a developmental test pilot for the first time, an event the service described as unprecedented this early in a major aircraft program.
Northrop Grumman designed the B-21 so that the first test aircraft closely matches the production configuration, allowing it to enter operational service after completing its testing rather than being retired or kept exclusively for development.
The Air Force intends to acquire at least 100 B-21 bombers to replace the aging B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit fleets, although senior military leaders have recently suggested that a larger fleet could eventually be required.
Recent news
Designed as a sixth-generation strategic bomber, the B-21 combines low-observable technology with long-range strike capability and an open-systems architecture intended to simplify future upgrades. The aircraft is expected to penetrate heavily defended airspace while carrying conventional or nuclear weapons.
Ellsworth will become the first operational base for the B-21, followed later by Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. Construction of new facilities is already underway to support the bomber's arrival.
