US B-21 Raider Bomber with Nuclear Capability Conducts Its First Flight

Reuters reported, citing its witnesses, that the B-21 Raider bomber, which is flying in a flying wing shape, conducted its first flight on Friday, November 10. This is the latest bomber in the new fleet of long-range stealth bombers capable of carrying nuclear warheads, built by Northrop Grumman NOC. The B-21 bomber left the Northrop facility at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California at 6:51 AM on Friday. The B-21, like its predecessor the B-2 bomber, is designed in a 'flying wing' shape and has the capability to launch conventional and nuclear weapons at distant targets, as well as refuel in-flight. The construction cost of the B-21 bomber is approximately $750 million. The United States Air Force plans to purchase at least 100 of these bombers to replace the B-1 and B-2 bombers. According to Pentagon data, the operational cost of the B-1 is about $60,000 per hour, and the B-2 is about $65,000 per hour. Ann Stefanek, a spokesperson for the Air Force, stated that the B-21 Raider is currently undergoing flight testing. The flight test is an important step in the testing campaign managed by the United States Air Force Test Center. A senior US Air Force general had stated in 2019 that this bomber could take flight by late fall 2021, but ultimately this test flight was delayed until this fall. American bombers participated in air exercises with Japan and South Korea. The US Air Force has been equipped with nuclear-capable B-21 bombers. The deployment of two additional B-52 bombers at the US military base in Qatar. The flight of two American bombers over the skies of the Middle East; Associated Press: A warning to the Islamic Republic. The renewed flight of the B-52 bomber over the Persian Gulf; a demonstration of US deterrent power against Iran.