- Side
- Unconfirmed conflict context
Official sources document the B-21 as a U.S. stealth bomber in flight test and low-rate initial production, but they do not establish combat use in a named conflict as of July 2026.
Aircraft & UAVs
B-21 Raider
Also known as
- Long Range Strike Bomber
- LRS-B
The B-21 Raider is a U.S. Air Force stealth strategic bomber developed by Northrop Grumman for long-range conventional and nuclear strike. It is the first new U.S. bomber of the 21st century, is in flight test and low-rate production, and is planned to anchor the future bomber force with B-52s.
Role in Conflicts
Profile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- United States
- Built by
- Northrop Grumman
- Type
- Stealth strategic bomber
- Service note
- 2010s-present development, flight test, and low-rate production
- Designer
- Northrop Grumman
- Designed
- 2011-2015
- Produced
- Low-rate initial production by 2024-present
Specifications
- Role
- Dual-capable penetrating strike stealth bomber
- Armament
- Conventional and nuclear munitions, including stand-off and direct-attack weapons
- Architecture
- Open systems architecture for future modernization
- Operations
- Designed to accommodate manned or unmanned operations
- Program role
- Backbone of the future Air Force bomber force
- Program status
- Flight test, ground test, and low-rate initial production; production capacity agreement announced in 2026
- Planned basing
- Ellsworth AFB first main operating base and Formal Training Unit; Whiteman AFB and Dyess AFB approved as follow-on bases
- Inventory objective
- Minimum of 100 aircraft
- Average unit procurement cost
- $550 million in base year 2010 dollars / $692 million in base year 2022 dollars
Confirmed Nuclear Munitions
Public sources identify the B61-12 gravity bomb and AGM-181 Long Range Standoff Weapon as B-21 nuclear weapon integrations.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Nuclear gravity bomb | The DOE fact sheet says the B61-12 is certified for delivery on future aircraft platforms, including the B-21, and Air & Space Forces reported that the Air Force has said the B-21 will be able to carry the B61. Sources: B61-12 LIFE EXTENSION PROGRAM - Department of Energy, Bombers Need Wider Range of Weapons: Panel |
 | Air-launched cruise missile | The FY 2026 DoD weapons budget says LRSO, combined with nuclear-capable bombers including the B-21, provides the nuclear triad, and Air & Space Forces reported that the Air Force has said the B-21 will be able to carry AGM-181 LRSO. Sources: FY 2026 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System, Bombers Need Wider Range of Weapons: Panel |
Universal Armament Interface Weapons
FY 2026 budget material cited by Air & Space Forces describes the Universal Armament Interface as planned for the B-21 and several precision weapons. This is an integration-standard link, not a public operational loadout claim.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Air-launched standoff cruise missile | Air & Space Forces reported that FY 2026 budget documents described Universal Armament Interface work on the B-21 and on JASSM-family weapons. |
 | GPS/INS guidance tail kit | Air & Space Forces reported that FY 2026 budget documents described Universal Armament Interface work on the B-21 and on JDAM-family weapons. |
 | GPS/INS-guided glide bomb | Air & Space Forces reported that FY 2026 budget documents described Universal Armament Interface work on the B-21 and on Small Diameter Bomb I and II. |
 | Air-launched precision-guided bomb | Air & Space Forces reported that FY 2026 budget documents described Universal Armament Interface work on the B-21 and on Small Diameter Bomb I and II. |
 | Air-launched anti-ship cruise missile | Air & Space Forces reported that FY 2026 budget documents described Universal Armament Interface work on the B-21 and on LRASM. |
Timeline
B-21 Raider Key Events
Engineering and manufacturing development contract
The Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman the B-21 engineering and manufacturing development contract, formally launching the program's development phase.
Sources: B-21 Raider
Public unveiling in Palmdale
The Pentagon publicly unveiled the B-21 Raider at Northrop Grumman's Palmdale manufacturing facility, showing the bomber to the public for the first time.
Sources: World Gets First Look at B-21 Raider
First flight
Reporting from Air & Space Forces Magazine documents the B-21's first flight from Palmdale to Edwards Air Force Base on Nov. 10, 2023.
Sources: B-21 Raider Archives
Second test aircraft joins flight testing
The Air Force announced that a second B-21 test aircraft arrived at Edwards Air Force Base and joined the flight-test campaign.
Sources: US Air Force announces arrival of second B-21 test aircraft at Edwards AFB
Production capacity increase announced
The Department of the Air Force and Northrop Grumman announced an agreement to expand B-21 production capacity by 25 percent and said the program remained on track for aircraft on the ramp at Ellsworth AFB in 2027.
Sources: DAF increases B-21 Raider production capacity to deliver combat capability faster
Aerial refueling test publicized
The Air Force released B-21 aerial-refueling test imagery with a KC-135 Stratotanker and described refueling as part of the campaign to mature survivable long-range penetrating strike.
Sources: B-21 Raider accelerates delivery of long-range strike capability
Operational tester flies B-21
Edwards AFB reported that an Air Force operational test pilot flew the B-21 with a developmental test pilot, marking an early integrated operational-test milestone.
Sources: Operational Pilot Flies B-21 as Top General Pushes Urgency
Ellsworth accepts first B-21 facilities
The Air Force reported that Ellsworth AFB accepted its Low Observable Restoration Facility and Wash Rack and General Maintenance Hangar, the first completed projects in the base's B-21 construction effort.
Sources: SecAF visits Ellsworth AFB as base reaches historic B-21 Raider facilities milestone
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
B-21 RaiderPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the B-21 mission, contract award date, open systems architecture, manned-or-unmanned design, bomber-force role, and general background. | Accessed: 2026-06-26B-21 Raider | Northrop GrummanPublisher: Northrop Grumman | Note: Supports manufacturer background, sixth-generation framing, long-range strike role, and stealth-focused product description. | Accessed: 2026-06-26World Gets First Look at B-21 RaiderPublisher: U.S. Department of War | Note: Supports the 2022 public unveiling, bomber role, and background context for the first new strategic bomber in more than three decades. | Accessed: 2026-06-26B-21 Raider continues flight test, productionPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports ongoing flight-test and low-rate initial production context in 2024, including the program's modernization and delivery timeline. | Accessed: 2026-06-26US Air Force announces arrival of second B-21 test aircraft at Edwards AFBPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the 2025 second test-aircraft arrival, continued flight testing, mission-systems and weapons-integration testing, low-rate initial production context, and the absence of a named combat theater in official program-status reporting. | Accessed: 2026-07-04B-21 Raider ArchivesPublisher: Air & Space Forces Magazine | Note: Supports the first-flight timeline and production context reported for the B-21 program. | Accessed: 2026-06-26B-21 Raider landing at Edwards Air Force BasePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for the hero image. | Accessed: 2026-06-26B-21 in flightPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for the in-flight gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-26B-21 Raider conducts aerial refueling with a KC-135 StratotankerPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for the aerial-refueling gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-26B-21 Raider second production close-upPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for the close-up gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-26B61-12 LIFE EXTENSION PROGRAM - Department of EnergyPublisher: U.S. Department of Energy | Note: Supports B61-12 delivery-platform compatibility, including future aircraft platforms such as the B-21, and general program background. | Accessed: 2026-06-27FY 2026 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon SystemPublisher: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) | Note: Supports the FY 2026 budget context that LRSO, combined with nuclear-capable bombers including the B-21, provides the nuclear triad. | Accessed: 2026-06-27DAF increases B-21 Raider production capacity to deliver combat capability fasterPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the 2026 production-capacity agreement, 25 percent capacity increase, 2025 aircraft deliveries, and 2027 Ellsworth AFB ramp timeline. | Accessed: 2026-07-04B-21 Raider accelerates delivery of long-range strike capabilityPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports 2026 aerial-refueling test context, fuel-efficiency claims, ongoing Edwards AFB test and evaluation, and the open-systems and nuclear/conventional mission framing. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Operational Pilot Flies B-21 as Top General Pushes UrgencyPublisher: Edwards Air Force Base | Note: Supports the June 2026 operational-test pilot milestone and integrated developmental and operational test context at Edwards AFB. | Accessed: 2026-07-04SecAF visits Ellsworth AFB as base reaches historic B-21 Raider facilities milestonePublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports July 2026 Ellsworth AFB basing-preparation status, completion of the first B-21 facilities, and the first main operating base/Formal Training Unit role. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Bombers Need Wider Range of Weapons: PanelPublisher: Air & Space Forces Magazine | Note: Supports reported Air Force statements that the B-21 will be able to carry B61, AGM-181 LRSO, and Next-Generation Penetrator weapons, plus FY 2026 Universal Armament Interface context for B-21 and selected precision munitions. | Accessed: 2026-07-04