RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Air Force has reached another significant milestone in the development of the B-21 Raider, the next-generation stealth bomber that will play a major role at Ellsworth Air Force Base in the years ahead.
According to a June 11 release from the U.S. Air Force’s 412th Test Wing Public Affairs Office, the B-21 recently completed its first flight involving an operational test pilot and a developmental test pilot working together in the cockpit. Air Force leaders say the achievement marks a major step toward getting the aircraft ready for future combat operations.
The B-21 is currently undergoing testing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Traditionally, new military aircraft move through developmental testing first to verify they meet engineering and safety requirements before transitioning to operational testing, which evaluates how effectively the aircraft can perform in real-world combat conditions. Air Force officials say combining those efforts earlier in the process will help speed development while ensuring the bomber meets the needs of future warfighters.
Col. Matt Guasco, commander of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center’s Detachment 5, said integrating operational testing at this stage is unlike anything the service has done with a modern aircraft program. He noted that having an operational pilot working alongside a developmental test pilot allows evaluators to begin assessing combat usefulness much sooner than in previous programs.
The milestone comes as the Air Force continues expanding testing of the Raider. Officials say the arrival of a second B-21 test aircraft last year allowed the program to move beyond basic flight evaluations and into more advanced testing involving mission systems and weapons integration.
Lt. Col. Matthew Gray, commander of the 420th Flight Test Squadron and director of the Raider Combined Test Force, said bringing operational testers into the program earlier helps determine not only how the aircraft flies, but also how effectively it can accomplish combat missions.
The B-21 remains one of the Air Force’s highest-priority modernization programs. During a June 8 visit with members of the Raider Combined Test Force, Gen. Dale White, who oversees several of the nation’s most critical defense programs, emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum. White told team members that the B-21, the Sentinel missile program and the F-47 fighter are among the military capabilities the nation may depend on during future conflicts.
Rather than simply demanding faster progress, White encouraged the team to identify obstacles that could be removed from the testing process. He said his focus is ensuring the program has the resources it needs while reducing bureaucratic barriers that can slow development.
White also called for what he described as a culture of urgency, encouraging personnel to challenge outdated processes and look for ways to accelerate progress without compromising mission requirements. He expressed confidence in the workforce supporting the Raider program and said their efforts are critical to the nation’s future security.
The B-21 Raider is designed to provide long-range strike capabilities and advanced stealth technology. Once operational, it will join the B-52 Stratofortress as part of the backbone of the Air Force’s future bomber fleet.
Ellsworth Air Force Base is expected to become the first operational home of the B-21, making the aircraft’s continued progress closely watched throughout western South Dakota and the Black Hills region.
Source: U.S. Air Force 412th Test Wing Public Affairs, Edwards Air Force Base, California.
