The US Air Force (USAF) has named Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and Dyess Air Force Base in Texas as the second and third bases for its incoming B-21 Raider bombers. The two bases follow Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota which was chosen to be the first USAF facility to receive the new jets.
The USAF has orders for around 100 of the next-generation stealth bombers which are to be used as a long-range strike and nuclear deterrent platform.
The new aircraft is currently under development by US manufacturer Northrop Grumman and is being lined up to replace the USAF’s Rockwell B-1 Lancer bombers in addition to its B-2 Spirit stealth bombers which by the time the B-21 is in service will be getting on years. The latest addition to the USAF stealth fleet is undergoing flight testing while production is said to be running at a “slow production rate.” The B-21 is expected to enter service with the USAF around 2027.
“This decision was made after a thorough evaluation process, which included operational analysis, site surveys, and consideration of environmental, economic, and technical factors,” said Whiteman AFB in a statement. “The experience that Whiteman AFB has with the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and its strategic location, played into the decision to base the B-21 here.”
In May 2024, Northrop Grumman announced that the B-21 flight test program had been a success. The development team added that they had observed the test aircraft’s performance had closely matched that seen during computer simulations of the warplane in real-world flight conditions.
“We continue to achieve B-21 production milestones; through digital engineering and open architecture design, we are getting an agile strategic deterrent that delivers a decisive response as required,” said General Thomas Bussiere of USAF Global Strike Command.
According to the manufacturer, the world’s latest long-range nuclear-capable bomber has “stealth features that can evade even the most sophisticated air defense systems” while its open system architecture allows for the integration of newer technology.
The USAF has previously stated that it intends to keep both its B-1 and B-2 bomber fleets at full strength until the B-21 Raider is available in sufficient numbers that the other fleets can be wound down. In the meantime, the USAF recently awarded a $7bn program for its B-2 fleet which will see the 19 aircraft undergo a lengthy refit and modernization program.
“The B-21 Raider is the first strategic bomber in more than three decades,” announced US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the B-21 unveiling ceremony held at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Palmdale, California in 2022. “It is a testament to America’s enduring advantages in ingenuity and innovation.”