00:00 A historic moment unfolds at Northrop's facility in Palmaid, California.
00:06 The US Air Force's groundbreaking B-21 Raider, a steeled bomber with a distinctive flying
00:11 wing design, embarked on its maiden flight.
00:15 This marks a significant stride in the deployment of a new fleet of long-range nuclear-capable
00:20 bombers, crafted with precision by Northrop Grumman.
00:24 Shrouded in secrecy during its development, the B-21 Raider now takes to the skies, offering
00:30 us the first unscripted glimpse of its advanced capabilities.
00:35 Join us as we witness the dawn of a new era in military aviation, where innovation meets
00:40 security in the form of this extraordinary aircraft.
00:45 The plane took off at 6.51 am, according to a witness.
00:49 Air Force leaders did not publicise the B-21's first flight, but about three dozen aviation
00:55 enthusiasts and immature photographers gathered around Plan 42 on Friday, November 10, hoping
01:01 to see the bomber take to the skies.
01:04 The B-21, which carries the same flying wing shape as its predecessor, the B-2, will be
01:09 able to deliver both conventional and nuclear weapons around the world using long-range
01:14 and mid-air fueling capabilities.
01:17 The aircraft is projected to cost approximately $550 million each in 2010 dollars, or about
01:24 $750 million in today's inflation-adjusted dollars.
01:28 However, the Air Force has kept other price information classified, which makes validating
01:34 the proposed cost difficult, the Congressional Research Service said in a 2021 report.
01:40 The Air Force plans to buy at least 100 of the planes and begin to replace B-1 and B-2
01:46 bombers.
01:47 The B-1 costs about $60,000 per hour to operate and the B-2 costs about $65,000 per hour,
01:54 according to Pentagon data.
01:56 And Stefanak, an Air Force spokesperson, said, "The B-21 Raider is in flight testing.
02:02 Flight testing is a critical step in a test campaign managed by the Air Force Test Center
02:07 and 412 Test Wings B-21 Combined Test Force.
02:12 As we witnessed the B-21 Raider soar through the skies, it's essential to reflect on the
02:17 journey that led to the historic flight."
02:19 While publicly unveiled in December 2022, the anticipation for its first flight has
02:25 been building for years.
02:27 Originally slated for a potential flight in December 2021, the timeline shifted to mid-2022
02:34 and eventually to 2023.
02:37 Currently in the engineering and manufacturing development phase, the B-21 program remains
02:42 on course to deliver these cutting-edge aircraft to Ellsworth Air Force Base in the mid-2020s,
02:48 according to the Air Force.
02:50 Notably, the B-21 introduces advanced features, including a more durable and steel-enabled
02:56 low-observable surface material, promising reduced maintenance to requirements and operational
03:02 costs.
03:03 [Music]
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