- Start
- Dec 31, 202750% CONFIDENCEfrom the source
The First B-21 Raider Arrives at Ellsworth Air Force Base
- Gen. Dale White, director of Critical Major Weapon Systems, said at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Life Cycle Industry Days in Dayton that B-21 Raiders will be "on the ramp" at Ellsworth Air Force Base next year.[1]
- That confirms the first operational aircraft are on track for a 2027 Ellsworth delivery as initially projected in February.[1]
- The programme has increased production capacity by 25%, boosting its delivery timeline, and contains a gradual ramp to roughly seven aircraft a year.[1]
- The first prototype began flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base in November 2023, with the second following in 2025 as weapons and mission systems were integrated.[1]
- The Air Force seeks at least 100 B-21s to replace the ageing B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit fleets.[1]
- $4.5 billion of already authorised funding went to the programme in fiscal 2025, and the fiscal 2027 budget request proposes $6.1 billion for it.[1]
Notable features
- The B-21 is a penetrating strike bomber planned to deliver both conventional and nuclear munitions, and the Air Force’s first new bomber since the B-2 Spirit in 1988.[3]
- Northrop Grumman calls it the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft, built with next-generation stealth, advanced networking and an open systems architecture for high-threat environments.[2]
- Its low-observable flying-wing design is similar in shape to the B-2 but has more deeply recessed engine inlets, dual-wheel main landing gear, trapezoidal windscreens and more advanced low-observable design.[3]
- Its span is estimated at 140 ft, length 55 ft and height 18 ft; it has an undisclosed number of Pratt & Whitney engines, an estimated high-subsonic speed and intercontinental range, and carries two pilots.[3]
- Notional armament includes the planned Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) missile and B61-12 guided free-fall weapons, as well as a range of advanced conventional weapons.[3]
References 474% CONFIDENCE
The first entry is always the pin's source. Overall confidence is a weighted average of how firmly each reference supports the start and end times used above; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newest.
- [1]50%militarytimes.com/industry/techwatch/2026/07/30/b-21-raiders-set-to-be-on-the-ramp-at-ellsworth-air-force-base-in-2027militarytimes.com· Posted Sep 21, 2026· Starts Dec 31, 2027 ✓· 29% of score
A year with no day, per militarytimes.com: Gen. Dale White "confirmed that the first operational aircraft of the stealth bombers are on track for a 2027 Ellsworth delivery as initially projected in February", so the pin takes the last day of that year.
- [2]88%B-21 Raider | Northrop Grummannorthropgrumman.com· Added Sep 22, 2026· 29% of score
Northrop Grumman's B-21 product page calls it the "world's first sixth-generation aircraft", "built with next-generation stealth, advanced networking and an open systems architecture" for high-threat environments.
- [3]82%B-21 Raiderairandspaceforces.com· Added Sep 21, 2026· 29% of score
Air & Space Forces Magazine’s programme page states that initial operational aircraft will be delivered to Ellsworth in 2027, followed by Whiteman and Dyess.[1]
- [4]76%B-21 Raider’s Production to Accelerate, First Delivery in 2027theaviationist.com· Published Feb 24, 2026· 13% of score
The February announcement the source[1] article refers back to, establishing the 2027 delivery projection and the 25% production-capacity increase.
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