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Air Force

B-21 May Move From Two Pilots To One Pilot, One WSO

Frank Wolfe

Monday, November 3rd, 2025

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B-21 May Move From Two Pilots To One Pilot, One WSO

second B-21 Raider test Pictured is the second B-21 taking off from Palmdale, Calif. on Sept. 11th to join the U.S. Air Force’s flight testing at Edwards AFB, Calif. (Northrop Grumman Photo)

The U.S. Air Force B-21 Raider stealth bomber by Northrop Grumman [NOC] may have a crew of one pilot and one weapons systems officer (WSO) instead of two pilots, as previously planned. On August 15, then Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) commander Gen. Thomas Bussiere approved the switch in a memo to Air Force leadership--the rationale being to allow a more ready fusion of radar, electromagnetic spectrum, sensor and battle management data for operators of the future bomber. Last…

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