The first B-21 Raider stealth bomber has been powered on, the aircraft’s latest milestone as it is prepared by Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force for its first flight.

Northrop Grumman says it is expecting the sixth generation aircraft to achieve its first flight later in the year.

Kathy Warden, CEO of Northrop Grumman, and Dave Keffer, the company’s chief financial officer, made the announcement during a quarterly earnings call last week.

The company also says that is still expecting the B-21 to make its first flight later this year. This comes amid concerns about delays and cost growth in the program, which is a top priority for Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force.

“On B-21, we successfully powered on the first flight test aircraft in the quarter,” Warden said. This is "another important milestone in our campaign to achieve first flight and transition to production.”

The B-21 Raider, a collaboration between Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force, was revealed at a formal ceremony at its production facilities in California in December 2022.

Forming the backbone of the future for US air power, the stealth aircraft will lead a powerful family of systems that delivers advanced integration of data, sensors and weapons. Its sixth-generation capabilities include stealth, information advantage and open architecture.

Capable of networking across the battlespace to multiple systems, and into all domains, the new bomber is supported by a digital ecosystem throughout its lifecycle. This capability will allow the B-21 can quickly evolve through rapid technology upgrades that provide new capabilities designed to outpace future threats.

The B-21 joins the nuclear triad as a visible and flexible deterrent designed for the US Air Force to meet its most complex missions.

The specific B-21 unveiled in 2022 is one of six in production. Each is considered a test aircraft, but each is being built on the same production line, using the same tools, processes, and technicians who will build production aircraft. This approach has enabled production engineers and technicians to learn lessons and apply them directly to follow-on aircraft, driving home a focus on repeatability, producibility and quality.

While the precise date when the B-21 will enter service is unknown, basing decisions have been made. Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota will become the first Main Operating Base and formal training unit for the B-21. Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, and Dyess Air Force Base in Texas, are the preferred locations for the remaining home bases. Each will receive aircraft as they become available.

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