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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Shown is a B-21 Raider artist rendering graphic. The rendering highlights the future stealth bomber with Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., as the backdrop. Designed to perform long range conventional and nuclear missions and to operate in tomorrow’s high end threat environment, the B-21 will be a visible and flexible component of the nuclear triad. (U.S. Air Force graphic)Shown is a B-21 Raider artist rendering graphic. The rendering highlights the future stealth bomber with Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., as the backdrop. Designed to perform long range conventional and nuclear missions and to operate in tomorrow’s high end threat environment, the B-21 will be a visible and flexible component of the nuclear triad. (Courtesy of Northrop Grumman)
                
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Air Force releases new B-21 Raider artist renderingPublished July 6, 2021
                    
                    
                    Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
            **WASHINGTON (AFNS) --**The Air Force released a new B-21 Raider artist rendering graphic with an accompanying **fact sheet** today. As with past renderings, this rendering is an artist’s interpretation of the B-21 design.

The new rendering highlights the future stealth bomber with **Edwards Air Force Base**, California, as the backdrop. The 420th Flight Test Squadron based at Edwards AFB will plan, test, analyze and report on all flight and ground testing of the B-21 Raider.

The B-21 program continues to execute the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase and is focused on scaling the manufacturing infrastructure and capacity across the industrial supply base to prepare for low rate initial production. A critical design review conducted in 2018 concluded the aircraft has a mature and stable design.

Designed to perform long range conventional and nuclear missions and to operate in tomorrow’s high end threat environment, the B-21 will be a visible and flexible component of the nuclear triad.

"Nuclear modernization is a top priority for the Department of Defense and the Air Force, and B-21 is key to that plan,” said **Randall Walden**, Air Force **Rapid Capabilities Office** director. “The built-in feature of open systems architecture on the B-21 makes the bomber effective as the threat environment evolves. This aircraft design approach sets the nation on the right path to ensuring America’s enduring airpower capability.”

The Air Force plans to incrementally replace the B-1 Lancer and the B-2 Spirit bombers to form a two-bomber fleet of B-21s and modified B-52s. The B-21 program is **on track to deliver B-21s** to the first operational base, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, in the mid-2020s.AFWN 



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