The next stage of the programme will focus beyond flight performance, examining weapons and mission systems that Northrop Grumman says make the B-21 “an unrivaled stealth bomber.” A new software package will also be tested, which the company says will allow “seamless upgrades to the B-21 fleet, ensuring its mission capability and weapons evolve to outpace any threat.”
This phase complements an extensive ground testing campaign involving several B-21 aircraft. Engineers have conducted rigorous assessments to certify that the aircraft can fly in extreme mission conditions, while durability has been demonstrated by simulating entire lifetimes of flight operations.
According to the company, test results have “consistently outperform[ed] digital modeling predictions, reinforcing confidence in the B-21’s performance and progress.” Northrop Grumman said this provides assurance of both the aircraft’s reliability and the pace of its development.
Northrop Grumman is also preparing the Air Force to operate and maintain the B-21 through advanced training and management tools. These include full-motion simulators, immersive labs and virtual training spaces as part of the Air Force’s Formal Training Unit at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota.
Future maintainers will use a Fleet Management Tool currently in development to support sustainment and maintenance activities. Informed by decades of sustainment experience and equipped with test and performance data, the tool is designed to keep the B-21 “mission ready for the American warfighter.”
The company said that together with strong progress in testing and training, it is accelerating delivery of what it calls a sixth-generation stealth bomber. Northrop Grumman stated the B-21 programme is “advancing the future of American air power.”
