America's secret $745 million nuclear bomber flies in first air test

New footage shows the top-secret US$745 million stealth nuclear bomber in the air for what appears to be its first publicly acknowledged flight test.

The B-21 Raider was unveiled in December 2022, but so far the US government has been tight-lipped about showing off this cutting-edge radar-evading aircraft.

The sleek bomber was shown flying for the first time as it undergoes flight tests in images released on Wednesday, a crucial step before an initial order of at least 100 of the stealthy craft can be approved for manufacture.

The B-21 has been described as a “dual-capable bomber”, capable of launching conventional and nuclear ordnance.

The US Air Force's B-21 stealth bomber is touted as being virtually “invisible” to all enemy stealth radars and will feature the latest in military technology.

This month, during the testimony at senate Armed Services Committee Andrew Hunter, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics, said flight testing of the B-21 is currently on schedule.

“We're in the flight test program, the flight test program is going well,” he said.

“It's doing what flight test programs are designed to do, which is helping us learn about the unique characteristics of this platform, but in a very, very efficient way.”

Assistant Secretary Hunter later explained that this is the first aircraft that is more digital than not, which helps the program meet the requirements.

The US Air Force's new stealth bomber was first caught in action by eagle-eyed plane spotters last November, but made a more official test flight this May.

The B-21 is a long-range, highly survivable, and penetrating stealth bomber that will gradually replace the B-1 and B-2 bombers and play an important role in supporting national security objectives and assisting allies and partners of the US worldwide.

The B-21 weapons system is manufactured under Air Force contract with Northrop Grumman.

“It is designed with an open systems architecture, which enables the rapid insertion of mature technologies and enables the aircraft to remain effective as threats evolve over time,” according to the US Air Force.

“The aircraft is expected to enter service in the mid-2020s with a production target of a minimum of 100 aircraft,” the military branch continued in its statement.

The B-21 taxis at Edwards Air Force Base, California

The B-21 Raider is one ship with nuclear capability and the first of its kind introduced since the end of the Cold War.

Although press releases described the latest test flights as the B-21's first, it was previously seen conducting a test flight at California late last year, Air Force officials confirmed.

Aviation photographer Matt Hartman caught the new warplane in action at Northrop Grumman's Palmdale facility in November 2023, video recording of this less public test flight from a road near Palmdale Air Force Base 42, California.

Aviation photographer Matt Hartman captured the new warplane in action at Northrop Grumman's Palmdale facility last November, recording a video of a less official test flight.

His footage shows the uniquely shaped B-21 Raider roaring through the sky, flanked by another aircraft, before making a sharp turn.

Aerospace company Northrop Grumman is producing six test planes, and each is expected to cost $750 million.

It is said to be virtually “invisible” to all enemy stealth radars and will be equipped with the latest in military technology.

The B-21 Raider weighs around 30,000 pounds, has a wingspan of 172 feet, and can reach top speeds of 621 miles per hour.

Air Force Global Strike Commander Thomas A. Bussier called the craft the “future backbone of the bomber fleet” at a November unveiling event.

In the long term, the US Air Force hopes to have at least 220 of them to replace the aging B-1 and B-2 bombers.

The service has estimated that the program will cost at least $203 billion over 30 years to develop, buy and maintain the B-21 fleet.

The B-21 is part of the Pentagon's efforts to modernize the three legs of its nuclear triad, which also includes silo-launched nuclear ballistic missiles and submarine-launched warheads, as it moves from counterterrorism campaigns of recent decades to confront -se in China's fast army. modernization