U.S. Air Force efforts to develop the new B-21 Raider bomber aircraft are proceeding as planned, according to the head of Air Force Global Strike Command.
”We’re where we said we were going to be,” said Gen. Robin Rand, whose command will eventually be charged with operating the aircraft. “I’m satisfied with where we’re at right now.”
The secretive program, whose prime contractor is Northrop Grumman [NOC], recently completed its preliminary design review, but details were not divulged. The Air Force plans to begin fielding the stealthy, deep-strike bomber in the mid-2020s and buy at least 100 aircraft.
Rand, who spoke May 17 at an Air Force Association event on Capitol Hill, also said the Air Force plans to send existing bombers to Royal Air Force Fairford in the United Kingdom next month to take part in training exercises for a few weeks. He declined to say which bombers will participate.
Two U.S. Air Force bombers — a B-1 Lancer and a B-52H Stratofortress — are scheduled to be on static display at the Royal International Air Tattoo in July at RAF Fairford.