PortolanBearings Network · FreeB-21 Raider
Program of Record · Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office
Program Type
Program of Record
Lead Agency
United States Air Force · Sponsor: Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office
Operational Domains
Air
Mission Areas
Precision Strike +1
OVERVIEW
The B-21 Raider is the U.S. Air Force's next-generation long-range strike bomber, developed by Northrop Grumman under a fixed-price development contract managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. The Raider is designed to penetrate contested airspace against modern integrated air defense systems and deliver both conventional and nuclear munitions. It is a central pillar of the U.S. nuclear triad's air leg and complements the Columbia SSBN and Sentinel ICBM. The B-21 rolled out in December 2022 and began flight testing in 2023. The Air Force plans a fleet of at least 100 aircraft, with initial operating capability publicly stated for the late 2020s.
AT A GLANCE
Status
Development
Started
2015
Organizations
2
Technologies
3
Last reviewed 2026-07-23
PROGRAM TIMELINE
Announced
CURRENT PHASE
Prototype
PLANNED
Testing
PLANNED
Fielding
PLANNED
Full capability
PLANNED
OBJECTIVES
01Field a penetrating long-range strike bomber for contested airspace
02Sustain the nuclear triad air leg
03Replace the B-2 Spirit as the strategic penetrating asset
04Achieve initial operating capability under fixed-price development
RELATED MISSIONS
RELATED TECHNOLOGIES
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS · 2
See all 2 in directory →Northrop Grumman CorporationParticipant · public program documentation
Pratt & WhitneyParticipant · public program documentation
Participation from public program documentation — never paid, never ranked. Contact Bearings deliberately omitted from the public layer.
RELATED PROGRAMS
REFERENCES
Air Force Rapid Capabilities OfficeNorthrop Grumman public briefingsGAO acquisition reports
Last reviewed 2026-07-23
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