2024-09-21 22:07:32
Washington: The US Air Force has given a glimpse of the world’s first sixth-generation stealth fighter jet. The US Air Force has released a video of the test flight of the nuclear stealth bomber B-21 Raider, in which the nuclear bomber can be seen taking off and landing at Edwards Air Force Base, where it is undergoing rigorous flight testing. The B-21 Raider was unveiled in December 2022 but the US government has been careful about showing it. The US Air Force has said that the flight test of the B-21 Raider includes ground tests, taxiing and flying operations. It said that the flight test is an important step aimed at achieving long-range strike capability to deter aggression and strategic attacks against the US and allies.
100 aircraft will be prepared
After testing, preparations are being made to deliver this aircraft to Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, which will be its first main operating base. The target is to produce at least 100 fighter aircraft under the sixth generation stealth bomber program. The US Army has been working on the B-21 Raider for years. The Air Force says it will provide extraordinary capabilities. The B-21 Raider is set to replace the old bombers B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit.
Features of B-21 Raider
The B-21 Raider is a dual-capacity bomber aircraft, capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons. It can carry a payload of 9000 kg. According to the US Air Force, ‘The B-21 will be the backbone of the future bomber force and will have the capability, reach and payload to penetrate even the most dangerous environments. It will be able to threaten any target in the world.’
The B-21 update panel said that the aircraft is currently capable of performing two test flights every week and assured that soon it will be ready for daily flights of the US Air Force. The B-21 is manufactured under the US Air Force contract with Northrop Grumman Group.
The most modern aircraft in the world
General Thomas Basir, head of the US Air Force’s Global Strike Command, described the capabilities of the B-21 and said, “Nobody on earth can do what we are doing right now. Nobody on this planet can build a platform as superior, technologically advanced as the B-21.” This aircraft is expected to enter service by the middle of this decade. That is, when the B-21 enters service, it will be the world’s only sixth generation aircraft.