The unveiling of the United States Air Force’s newest strategic stealth bomber is anticipated by the end of 2022, according to a statement from Northrop Grumman. Following a long-standing American tradition, the first flight of a newly introduced aircraft usually occurs several months after the ceremonial reveal.
Defense News noted that confirming the B-21’s maiden flight for 2023 clarifies the overall timeline for the next-generation long-range strike aircraft, while also underscoring the Air Force’s aim for a rapid first flight. The B-21 program represents a major milestone for U.S. air power, even as timelines have seen adjustments over the years.
The Pentagon had anticipated launching the B-21 in December 2021, a plan first disclosed in 2019 by the former Deputy Chief of Staff, General Stephen Wilson.
The Department of Defense announced in 2015 its intention to contract with Northrop Grumman for the development of a new long-range attack bomber (LRS-B).
The B-21 Raider is designed to operate with both conventional and nuclear munitions. Northrop Grumman describes a capability to penetrate deep into adversary territory and endure in environments heavily defended by modern air defenses.
As expected, the B-21 Raider will be produced in both manned and unmanned configurations, with its combination of extended range and substantial payload suggesting a primarily subsonic profile.
Air Force officials emphasize that the B-21 is part of a larger “system family,” a node within a broad network of distributed combat platforms, sensors, and communications that work together to achieve mission objectives.
Regarding the Russian competing program, the PAK DA (Advanced Long-Range Aviation Complex), public information remains limited. What is available consists mainly of computer renderings and images of the latest Russian strategic bomber model, code-named “Product-80” and referred to as “Messenger-1RP-MS” during the experimental design phase.
Official expectations for a new generation of strategic bomber indicate an aerodynamic design based on a flying-wing concept, incorporating stealth technologies and drawing comparisons to the B-2 and B-21. The PAK DA is anticipated to carry hypersonic offensive and defensive weapons.
Previous reports placed the first PAK DA prototype in 2021–2022, with test flights anticipated in 2025–2026 and serial deliveries beginning in 2028–2029. Earlier statements suggested the initial tests of the bomber in April 2023, followed by state testing in February 2026, and entry into service by 2027.
Analysts have noted that the PAK DA does not appear to be an immediate priority for Russia’s military modernization. The country’s Long-Range Aviation fleet remains substantial, including a core cadre of strategic bombers in need of modernization, with some observers arguing that Russia could field a prototype stealth bomber today, though scaling to a full series would present different challenges. Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, commented that while the program remains active, its broader deployment is a separate hurdle.
Despite ongoing discussions, the PAK DA program continues in development, with occasional reassessments of timing. Retired air force commanders have suggested that the pace of stealth bomber production has slowed on both sides, reflecting a broader learning curve about where and how such aircraft should be employed.