Meet B-21 Raider, US’ next-gen stealth bomber, faster and deadlier than B-2 Spirit, its capable of…; trouble for China, Russia due to…

The second B-21 Raider stealth bomber of the US Air Force (USAF) successfully completed its maiden flight last week when it took off from the USAF’s Palmdale facility in California and landed at the Edwards Air Force Base last week. The B-21 raider, the world’s first sixth-generation stealth bomber, is expected enhance the strategic capability of the US Air Force with its groundbreaking weapons integration, and mission systems testing, experts says.

How powerful is the B-21 Raider?

Named in honor of Doolittle Raiders of World War II, the B-21 Raider is the world’s first sixth-generation bomber, designed for long-range strike missions, penetrating highly-contested enemy airspace to deliver nuclear and conventional attacks. The stealth bomber, manufactured by Northrop Grumman, is equipped with low-observable technology, which offers better radar signature suppression compared to its predecessors, including the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.

The B-21 Raider which is designed to replace the B-2 Spirit is built from advanced composite materials, and its radar-transparent structure, and edge-aligned geometry provides enhanced stealth capabilities. The airframe coating is designed for rapid maintenance, reducing time and operational costs.

The next-gen bomber is equipped with embedded sensors and antennas that provide broadband signature suppression with a flush airframe design, while its advanced integrated defensive avionics suite is capable of lightning response to a wide-range of threats such as incoming missile or electronic warfare.

Why B-21 Raider is more lethal than B-2 spirit?

The B-21 Raider is tipped as the successor of the B-2 Spirit bomber and features full-spectrum connectivity, enabling secure communications across space, air, sea, land, and cyber domains, that allows real-time targeting and cross-domain synchronization.

The B-21 bomber is designed for strike missions beyond enemy missile range, without the need for forward basing, and is capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional payloads, such as B61-12 gravity bombs, AGM-181 LRSO cruise missiles, precision-guided munitions, air-launched hypersonic weapons, and stand-in jammers.

The bomber features an automated electronic warfare suite for threat prioritization and jamming without requiring an escort aircraft. It also utilizes AI-based mission planning to reduce crew workload and enhanced situational awareness.

B-21 Raider test flight

On September 11, 2025, second B-21 Raider (tail number T-2) took flight from the Palmdale facility and arrived at Edwards Air Force Base, with USAF Secretary Troy Menk describing the test flight as a major milestone and a significant step forward following which extensive testing of the weapon system and mission systems will be conducted.

The first B-21 (T-1) was tested in November 2023, and flight tests are currently being conducted twice a week, he said, adding six additional B-21s are currently in production, with two ready for ground testing.