Nuclear stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider, takes first test flight
The B-21 Raider took its first test flight on Friday, moving the futuristic warplane closer to becoming the nation’s next nuclear weapons stealth bomber.
“The B-21 Raider is in flight testing,” Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said.
Such testing is a critical step in the campaign to provide “survivable, long-range, penetrating strike capabilities to deter aggression and strategic attacks against the United States, allies, and partners,” Stefanek said.
theoderich hat geschrieben: ↑So 29. Okt 2023, 13:23On Oct. 25, 2023, the first images of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber during ground testing outside of its Palmdale hangar have started to circulate online. The picture, posted online by a now deleted user on Reddit, shows the new stealth bomber apparently idle under its own power, with security flanking the aircraft.
New High-Resolution B-21 Raider Images Supposedly Show Its Auxiliary Air Intake Design (31. Oktober 2023)
B-21 Needs More Air Refuelers, TRANSCOM Chief Says
A fleet of at least 100 Northrop Grumman B-21 Raiders will increase the U.S. Strategic Command’s requirement for air refueling volume, a top Defense Department mobility leader said on March 5.
Gen. Randall Reed, Transportation Command chief, said he learned of the B-21’s extra refueling requirement during a meeting in the past month with Gen. Anthony Cotton, the head of Strategic Command.
“We got a really deep understanding in terms of how they intend to employ their new aircraft,” Reed told the panel. “And that will drive a slightly different way in which we are to support them, which actually means that it’s going to be a little bit higher requirement specifically in the fuel transfer.”
A Transportation Command spokesman later clarified that Reed meant that a larger fleet of B-21s compared to the 20-strong Northrop B-2A fleet will need a larger number of air refueling tankers to support operations.
Reed and Cotton are now teaming up to lobby the U.S. Air Force to address the B-21’s need for a faster fuel transfer rate, Reed added.
The disclosure offers a rare glimpse into the secretive operational plans for the Air Force’s next-generation bomber.
NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
$ in millions
Operating activities
B-21 loss provision
2025
477
2024
-
B-21 Program
During the fourth quarter of 2023, we recognized a projected loss of $1.56 billion across the five low-rate initial production (LRIP) options on the B-21 program. During the first quarter of 2025, we recognized an additional $477 million loss across the five LRIP options. This additional loss largely relates to higher manufacturing costs primarily resulting from a process change made by the company to enable an accelerated production ramp, as well as increases in the projected cost and quantity of general procurement materials. The additional loss comprises $226 million of unfavorable EAC adjustments on the first and second LRIP lots and a $251 million loss contingency accrual for lots 3-5, which have not yet been exercised. As of March 31, 2025, the remaining loss accrual on the B-21 program totaled $1.7 billion, which is included in Other current liabilities.
B-21 Program
In 2015, the U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman the B-21 contract, which includes a base contract for engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) and five low-rate initial production (LRIP) options for a baseline total of 21 aircraft. The EMD phase of the program is largely cost type and began at contract award. The LRIP options are largely fixed price and are expected to continue to be awarded and executed through approximately the end of the decade. In addition to the five LRIP options, Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force have established not to exceed (NTE) pricing for additional aircraft up to unit 40. The average NTE value for these subsequent lots is above the average unit price of the five LRIP lots, and the NTE lots include an economic price adjustment clause to help protect against certain inflationary pressures. Final terms, quantity, and pricing for these subsequent lots are not fully negotiated.
During the fourth quarter of 2023, we recognized a projected loss of $1.56 billion across the five LRIP options. During the first quarter of 2025, we reviewed our estimated profitability on the program and recognized an additional $477 million loss across the five LRIP options. This additional loss largely relates to higher manufacturing costs primarily resulting from a process change made by the company to enable an accelerated production ramp, as well as increases in the projected cost and quantity of general procurement materials.
The company’s first quarter 2025 results reflect our current best estimate of cost to complete the LRIP and NTE aircraft, as well as the outcome of ongoing discussions with our suppliers and our customer. If our estimated cost to complete the aircraft changes or our assumptions regarding contract performance, quantities, supplier negotiations, or funding to mitigate the impact of macroeconomic disruptions are resolved more or less favorably than what we have estimated, our financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows could be materially affected.
