US Air Force conducts weapons test on B-21 Raider

Nov 13 (Reuters) – The US Department of the Air Force said on Friday it conducted a weapons release ​test for its B-21 Raider stealth ‌bomber last week, transitioning the next-generation aircraft from flight test into a functional weapons platform. The Air Force had awarded the development contract for ‌the ​B-21, the United States’ ⁠next-generation stealth bomber, ⁠to Northrop Grumman in 2015. Here are more details: • Northrop Grumman’s partners on the B-21 program include Pratt & Whitney, Janicki Industries, Collins ​Aerospace, GKN Aerospace, BAE Systems and Boeing unit Spirit AeroSystems • The B-21 ⁠Raider is designed to ⁠bypass dense, modern integrated air ​defense systems and deliver both conventional and ​nuclear munitions • During the test, a B-21 ‌aircraft flew from Edwards Air Force Base, California, and released a conventional weapon, proving that its digital models and ⁠open systems architecture worked as expected, the Department of the Air Force said • “This weapons test proves ⁠the ‌B-21 program is excelling,” Air ⁠Force Chief of Staff Ken Wilsbach ​said • ‌The Air Force said the ​program is ⁠ahead of schedule, with the first operational aircraft expected to arrive at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota in 2027 (Reporting by Apratim Sarkar in Bengaluru; Editing by ​Leroy Leo)