Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) handed over a second B-21 Raider stealth bomber to the U.S. Air Force, marking another step toward preparing the next-generation aircraft for service.
The new bomber arrived at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where it will expand the service’s ability to conduct flight trials and sustainment training, the Air Force said. Officials described the milestone as “a significant step toward operational readiness” of the nation’s sixth-generation bomber.
B-21 Raider (U.S. Air Force) 
For the coming fiscal year, the Air Force has requested nearly $5 billion to continue B-21 research and $5.5 billion for production, roughly double last year’s request. Testing and production are advancing in tandem, with five additional test aircraft under construction on the same line that will eventually produce operational bombers.
The Raider, designed to carry both nuclear and conventional weapons, has so far met cost, schedule and performance benchmarks, according to the service. Current evaluations include ground runs, taxi trials and flight operations. Lawmakers and the Government Accountability Office have praised the program’s approach of building test aircraft on the production line, saying it reduces retrofits and improves efficiency.