B-21 Raider Demonstrates Aerial Refuelling

Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider demonstrates aerial refueling | Photo: U.S. Air Force

The B-21 Raider has demonstrated aerial refuelling during flight testing, marking a development in the evaluation of the long-range strike aircraft. The test, conducted with a KC-135 Stratotanker, is part of an ongoing effort to assess the bomber’s range, endurance, and operational capabilities.

According to Northrop Grumman and the United States Air Force, aerial refuelling has now been integrated into the B-21 test programme. This allows for longer-duration sorties and supports continued testing of mission systems and weapons integration.

“Our teams are moving the B-21 Raider through testing at an unprecedented pace, continually proving its outstanding performance – including aerial refueling,” said Tom Jones, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems. “We’ve designed and built a reliable, adaptable aircraft that is vital to our warfighters’ missions, while operating with a sense of wartime urgency to accelerate production and deliver this capability.”

The B-21 programme is advancing through flight and ground testing, with multiple aircraft participating in evaluation activities. The testing effort includes operations at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where the Air Force Test Center and the 412th Test Wing are working with industry partners to validate system performance.

“The B-21 program is the leading edge of the acquisition mindset we are instilling across the force. Every test proves the success of empowering our leaders to deliver integrated capability from the start,” said General Dale White, Department of War direct reporting portfolio manager for critical major weapon systems. “The program’s use of digital engineering and modern production processes is delivering a mature, highly capable system, giving us confidence as we continue to smartly scale our production capacity at the speed of relevance.”

The B-21 Raider is named after the World War II Doolittle Raid led by Lt. Col. James “Jimmy” Doolittle, linking the programme to earlier U.S. bomber operations.

The B-21 Raider conducts aerial refueling with a KC-135 Stratotanker | Photo: Northrop Grumman

The aircraft is designed to carry both conventional and nuclear payloads and is expected to form part of the U.S. nuclear triad. Its open systems architecture is intended to allow for the integration of future capabilities and upgrades.

Fuel efficiency is a key aspect of the design, with the aircraft using less fuel than earlier bomber platforms. This may reduce reliance on tanker aircraft and affect operational planning.

“The B-21’s fuel efficiency is one of the core components of its lethality” said General Ken Wilsbach, Chief of Staff of the Air Force. “This long-range strike bomber will reduce the demand on our tanker fleet and free up assets to support the joint force. This will provide a wider range of employment options and the deterrence our nation requires.”

Operational commanders emphasise the role of aerial refuelling in extending mission endurance.

“For our bomber crews and the combatant commanders they support, this is about endurance and mission readiness,” said General S. L. Davis, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command. “This capability ensures we can deliver penetrating long-range strike anywhere in the world, at any time. We are strengthening the capabilities of our bomber force and putting a highly effective and lethal weapon system into the hands of our warfighters.”

Northrop Grumman has invested more than $5 billion in digital engineering and manufacturing infrastructure for the programme. These investments support production scaling and integration of advanced systems. The first operational aircraft is planned for delivery to Ellsworth Air Force Base in 2027.

The programme involves more than 8,000 personnel and over 400 suppliers across the United States. Digital tools, including modelling and simulation, are being used to support testing and production processes.