US Air Force B-21 bomber begins ground testing

The US Air Force’s B-21 Raider bomber has entered the ground testing phase ahead of its expected rollout and maiden flight later this year.

The Northrop Grumman stealth aircraft has been moved to a calibration facility to test its airframe load stress capacity under conditions such as turbulent landing and during weapons drops.

Five more nuclear-capable Raiders are currently in various stages of production, one more than previously stated. The aircraft is being designed to penetrate anti-access/area denial environments.

The air force wants a minimum of 100 — and ideally, up to 200 — B-21s to replace its fleet of 62 B-1B Lancers and 20 B-2A Spirits to fly alongside its modernized B-52s. Delivery is expected to begin in the mid-2020s.