B-21 Raider stealth bomber completes key Air Force 180-day test plan in just 73 days

Northrop Grumman says the B-21 Raider test team compressed a planned 180-day cycle into 73 days.

The program has completed about half of its planned missions and recently finished a successful aerial refueling test.

The faster pace suggests the stealth bomber is maturing with fewer setbacks, supporting the Air Force’s next-generation strike goals.

The update also highlights progress tied to an $11.8 billion contract value and the broader U.S. nuclear deterrence mission.