U.S. military's bomber B-21 Raider takes first flight
Photo: The U.S. Air Defense's bomber B-21 Raider (dvidshub.net)
The U.S. Air Force's B-21 Raider bomber, featuring a "flying wing" design, has conducted its inaugural flight today, writes Reuters.
The B-21 departed from the Northrop facility in Palmdale, California, at dawn on Friday. According to a Reuters witness, the aircraft took off at around seven in the morning.
JUST IN - First flight of the U.S. military's B-21 Raider strategic bomber.pic.twitter.com/lk5qqbaXt9
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) November 10, 2023
The B-21, featuring the same flying wing design as its predecessor, the B-2, is capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear weapons worldwide, utilizing long-range aerial refueling capabilities.
Here's what is known about this aircraft
- Reuters reports that each aircraft will cost approximately $750 million with adjustments for inflation.
- According to a Congressional Research Service report for the year 2021, the U.S. Air Force kept specific pricing information classified, complicating the verification of the proposed cost.
- The U.S. Air Force plans to procure at least 100 B-21 Raider bombers, initiating the replacement of B-1 and B-2 bombers. According to the Pentagon, the operational cost of the B-1 is approximately $60,000 per hour, and the B-2 is around $65,000 per hour.
The B-21 Raider was officially presented in the United States in late November of the previous year. The Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, later officially introduced this state-of-the-art strategic bomber.
