Air Force’s New B-21 Raider ‘Flying Wing’ Bomber Takes First Flight

The United States Air Force's B-21 "Raider", the long-range stealth bomber that can be armed with nuclear weapons, takes off from the runway at Northrop Grumman's site at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif., on Nov. 10, 2023. David Swanson/Reuters

The U.S. Air Force’s B-21 “Raider” bomber shaped like a flying wing took its first flight on Friday, the next step in rolling out a new fleet of long-range nuclear-capable stealth bombers built by Northrop Grumman.

The B-21 left Northrop’s facility at the Air Force’s Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, at sunrise on Friday offering the first unscripted look at the new bomber which has been developed under strict security.