Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force have announced that the launch of the B-21 Raider will take place in early December.
"Northrop Grumman Corporation, in partnership with the US Air Force, will unveil the B-21 Raider the first week of December at the company's headquarters in Palmdale, California."
This is the first sentence of the press release the company sent on September 20, 2022, announcing the launch of one of the most anticipated launches in decades: that of the next stealth bomber built by the US Air Force. It is intended to replace the B-1 and B-2 fleets.
Six B-21 test aircraft are in various stages of final assembly in Palmdale, California, according to Northrop Grumman. The first flight is projected for 2023. The actual timing of the first flight will be based on the results of ground tests.
The new bomber is expected to enter operational service around 2026 or 2027, with Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, as the preferred location for the first B-21 main operating base, and Dyess AFB, Texas, as the alternate.