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B-21 Taxi Tests Underway, As Bomber Prepares for First Flight

B-21 Taxi Tests Underway, As Bomber Prepares for First Flight
Gen. Anthony Cotton stands with base and civic leaders at the B-21 bed down groundbreaking ceremony at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., on May 25 last year. Cotton was then the chief of Air Force Global Strike Command and now heads Strategic Command. The Air Force Civil Engineer Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas is in charge of a $1 billion construction effort at Ellsworth for the B-21 (U.S. Air Force Photo)

Taxi tests of the Northrop Grumman [NOC] B-21 Raider stealth bomber are underway near Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif., as the aircraft prepares for first flight. The Air Force issued a short statement this week that "the B-21 is conducting ground taxi activities." "Rigorous testing is a critical step in the B-21 flight test program," the service said. "Extensive testing evaluates systems, components, and functionalities. This testing allows us to mitigate risks, optimize design, and enhance operational effectiveness." This week,…

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