Second B-21 test aircraft joins fleet at Edwards AFB, boosting mission systems and weapons integration while moving the Air Force closer to operational readiness.
The U.S. Air Force announced the arrival of a second B-21 Raider test aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base in California, a move that significantly boosts the service’s capacity to test the next-generation stealth bomber.
The new addition allows the Air Force to move beyond initial flight performance checks and begin critical evaluations of the bomber’s mission systems and weapons integration. This accelerates the path toward operational readiness for the nation’s sixth-generation bomber.
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“With the arrival of the second B-21 Raider, our flight test campaign gains substantial momentum,” said Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink. “We can now expedite critical evaluations of mission systems and weapons capabilities, directly supporting the strategic deterrence and combat effectiveness envisioned for this aircraft.”
The presence of a second test aircraft at Edwards AFB also provides valuable hands-on experience for Air Force maintainers, who will gain experience in managing simultaneous aircraft sustainment operations. This helps test the effectiveness of maintenance tools, technical data, and logistical processes that will support future operational squadrons.
“By having more assets in the test environment, we bring this capability to our warfighters faster,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin. “This demonstrates the urgency with which we’re tackling modernization.”
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In addition to the expanded flight testing, fiscal year 2026 will see the launch of extensive military construction projects at all three designated B-21 main operating bases. Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, the first base set to receive operational B-21 aircraft, is already making rapid progress on numerous infrastructure projects to ensure readiness.
Developed in partnership with Northrop Grumman, the B-21 Raider is a stealth strategic bomber designed to deliver both conventional and nuclear payloads. The program continues to execute its flight and ground testing campaigns alongside low-rate initial production.
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