B-21 Raider Completes First Supersonic Flight Test Over Edwards AFB

Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider stealth bomber achieved a major milestone last week when the aircraft completed its first supersonic flight during testing at Edwards Air Force Base. The successful test demonstrates the aircraft’s ability to operate across a wider performance envelope than initially disclosed.

While specific performance data remains classified, Air Force officials confirmed that the second test aircraft successfully exceeded Mach 1 during a high-altitude flight profile. The test lasted approximately three hours and validated several structural and propulsion system parameters.

“The B-21 continues to meet or exceed all performance requirements,” said Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall during a Pentagon briefing. “This aircraft represents a quantum leap in bomber capability and will anchor our strategic deterrent for decades.”

The B-21 Raider is designed to penetrate the most advanced integrated air defense systems in the world. Its low-observable characteristics, combined with advanced sensors and networking capabilities, make it a cornerstone of the Air Force’s future force structure.

Three test aircraft are currently flying at Edwards, with a fourth expected to join the program this spring. Initial operational capability remains on track for 2027, with the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, designated as the first operational unit.

The Air Force plans to procure at least 100 B-21s to replace the aging B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit fleets. Each aircraft is estimated to cost approximately $700 million in current dollars, making it one of the most expensive weapons programs in Pentagon history.

Congressional support for the program remains strong, with both parties viewing the bomber as essential for maintaining strategic deterrence against peer adversaries. The House Armed Services Committee recently approved additional funding to accelerate production rates.

Pilot selection for the B-21 program is already underway, with experienced bomber crews from B-1 and B-2 units competing for positions in the new aircraft.