Pentagon Orders Assembly of Five Next-Generation B-21 Bombers

Northrop Grumman is currently assembling five next-generation B-21 Raider strategic bombers at the request of the Pentagon. This was reported by the specialized portal Defense Brief on Tuesday, citing a statement from U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, according to TASS.

“At the moment I am speaking, the assembly of five B-21 aircraft is underway, which will be used for testing at the Palmdale facility in California. You will never hear optimistic predictions from me regarding the implementation of any particular program. All programs are linked to risks and the B-21 creation program is no exception, but it is currently being executed successfully,” the portal quoted the Secretary speaking at the Air Force Association conference that took place on Monday in National Harbor, Maryland.

Earlier this year, Air Force representatives noted that two B-21s were in various production phases at the Northrop Grumman plant in Palmdale, with the first Raider expected to roll out in early 2022 and make its first flight in the middle of that year.

At the same time, Joe Biden announced at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly that the withdrawal from Afghanistan marked the end of an era of endless wars and opened a new era of tireless diplomacy.