The United States Air Force unveiled the Northrop Grumman-made B-21 Raider in a ceremony at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, on December 2.
The B-21 Raider is the first new American bomber aircraft in more than 30 years. The B-21 Raider has been specifically designed to be the multifunctional backbone of the modernized bomber fleet.
“The B-21 Raider is the first strategic bomber in more than three decades,” Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin said during the ceremony. “It is a testament to America’s enduring advantages in ingenuity and innovation. And it’s proof of the Department’s long-term commitment to building advanced capabilities that will fortify America’s ability to deter aggression, today and into the future.”
Austin said that the B-21 “is deterrence the American way. … This isn’t just another airplane. It’s not just another acquisition. … It’s the embodiment of America’s determination to defend the republic that we all love. It’s a testament to our strategy of deterrence—with the capabilities to back it up, every time and everywhere.”
The B-21 is the first new bomber to be introduced since the end of the Cold War. The U.S. Air Force plans to buy at least 100 of the B-21 aircraft, which comes with a $700 million price tag per plane.
The aircraft is designed with updated stealth qualities and mission flexibility that are necessary to achieve the U.S. goal of achieving integrated deterrence, and if necessary, capabilities required to successfully respond to aggression anywhere in the world at any time, U.S. officials said.
“Leveraging innovative manufacturing techniques, open systems architectures and active management allows us to integrate new technology as it matures and ensures the B-21 can adapt to future threats and be successful when and where we need it,” Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Andrew P. Hunter, said.
“With the B-21, the U.S. Air Force will be able to deter or defeat threats anywhere in the world,” said Tom Jones, corporate vice president and president, of Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems. “The B-21 exemplifies how Northrop Grumman is leading the industry in digital transformation and digital engineering, ultimately delivering more value to our customers.”
