B‑21 Raider begins production, promises new era of stealth
At Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, the intensive production of B-21 Raider bombers is underway. As stated by Kathy Warden, CEO of Northrop Grumman, the company is in the process of producing the first two batches. According to Bulgarian Military, this indicates that 40 of these aircraft are already being manufactured.
The B-21 Raider is a strategic bomber poised to become a crucial component of the U.S. Air Force. Its design features stealth technology and an open systems architecture, enabling rapid upgrades. This allows the B-21 to adapt to evolving threats for many decades to come.
Innovative approach to production
The Bulgarian Military service notes that Northrop Grumman has implemented an innovative approach to B-21 production by combining testing and manufacturing on a single line. This reduces differences between prototypes and operational units, speeding up the transition to full operational readiness. The first B-21, named Cerberus, embarked on its maiden flight in November 2023.
However, producing the B-21 presents financial challenges. Northrop Grumman reported a loss of $477 (CAD 660) million in the first quarter of 2025 due to rising production costs. Nonetheless, the company anticipates that full-scale production will eventually yield the expected profits.
The future of American aviation
The B-21 Raider bomber is the latest and most technologically advanced strategic aircraft of the United States Air Force, intended to set a new benchmark for conducting operations in 21st-century airspace. The aircraft is designed to penetrate the most sophisticated air defence systems, with an emphasis on full network integration, high autonomy, and low detectability—features that are expected to provide the U.S. with an edge in potential conflicts with peer adversaries such as China or Russia.
The B-21 Raider is constructed with the latest composite materials and radar-absorbing coatings, and its onboard systems—including sensors, radars, and electronic warfare systems—create an integrated environment, allowing the aircraft to conduct missions with complete secrecy. Furthermore, the B-21 is the first "digital" bomber—designed entirely in a virtual environment, facilitating its modernization, maintenance, and integration with future weapon and command systems.
Currently, there is limited detailed information about the capabilities and performance of the B-21. However, the Raider is known to be a long-range aircraft capable of executing both conventional and nuclear strikes from U.S. territory. Unlike its predecessors, the B-21 is also designed for network operations—with the capability to work with unmanned wingmen, satellites, and other combat platforms in real time. The U.S. Air Force has disclosed that the Raider will have the ability to operate from both land bases and—potentially—forward-deployed airfields, enhancing its flexibility in responding to crises.
The B-21's arsenal is expected to include a wide array of precision conventional bombs as well as nuclear warheads, such as those featured in the B61-12 and B83, along with AGM-158 JASSM and JASSM-ER cruise missiles. In the future, the aircraft is also expected to gain the capability to carry new-generation hypersonic missiles, further boosting its deterrence potential.
The aircraft has not yet been officially commissioned into service. The U.S. anticipates the first units to be delivered to combat units before the end of the decade. Ultimately, the Pentagon aims to have at least 100 such bombers. The B-21 Raider is set to become the cornerstone of the U.S. air strategy, combining the range of the B-52, the flexibility of the B-1, and the stealth of the B-2. Plans are in place to deploy the first units to bases in South Dakota, Missouri, and Texas.
