ORLANDO, Fla. — The primary B-21 Raider bomber has entered the bottom check part, paving the way in which for its anticipated rollout this 12 months and subsequent first flight.
Northrop Grumman now has six of the stealthy, next-generation plane in varied levels of manufacturing, Darlene Costello, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Drive for acquisition, know-how and logistics, mentioned in a Friday roundtable with reporters on the Air Drive Affiliation’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Florida.
Tom Jones, Northrop’s Aeronautics Programs president, additionally confirmed in an announcement that the primary Raider is now present process floor exams.
Costello mentioned that with the beginning of testing on that B-21, “we’re on monitor for first flight [and] we’re holding to our schedule.” She wouldn’t go into additional element on plans for the B-21.
In one other roundtable with reporters on the convention, Air Drive Secretary Frank Kendall mentioned he’s glad with the B-21′s progress thus far.
“At the very least at this stage of the sport, the B-21′s shifting ahead very well,” Kendall mentioned.
Throughout the floor check part at Air Drive Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, the place Northrop is constructing the B-21, testers will flip the B-21′s energy on, check its subsystems, check its structural integrity, and apply coatings and paint.
The subsequent step will contain getting the B-21 prepared for flight. This consists of finishing up engine runs in addition to low-speed after which high-speed taxiing.
After that, the precise first flight from Plant 42 to Edwards Air Drive Base in California will happen. Formal flight testing might be held at Edwards.
Jones mentioned Northrop’s B-21 staff carried out in depth work within the laboratory to cut back threat and guarantee no surprises pop up in the course of the check program.
“With the primary [B-21] check plane in formal floor check, software program and {hardware} are coming collectively,” Jones mentioned. “The part we’re in now will additional show out our design on our strategy to first flight.”
The Air Drive has been tightlipped for months about plans for the B-21 as its anticipated rollout attracts nearer — together with when that debut would possibly happen.
In September, Air Drive Chief of Workers Gen. CQ Brown mentioned it’s doubtless the service will “do one thing particular,” reminiscent of a ceremony for the plane’s unveiling or for the primary flight that can observe.
The Air Drive final unveiled a brand new bomber in November 1988, additionally at Palmdale, when the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit was first proven publicly. That bomber took its first public flight months later, in July 1989.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter at Protection News. He beforehand reported for Navy.com, masking the Pentagon, particular operations and air warfare. Earlier than that, he coated U.S. Air Drive management, personnel and operations for Air Drive Occasions.
