Air Force reports progress on B-21 Raider and F-47 fighter programs

The Air Force announced that its B-21 Raider stealth bomber program is ahead of schedule, with the first operational aircraft expected to arrive at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota in 2027. Gen. Dale White, director of Critical Major Weapon Systems, provided updates on both the B-21 and the sixth-generation F-47 fighter during the Air Force's Life Cycle Industry Days conference in Dayton, Ohio. The B-21 program has accelerated by approximately 25% following a $4.5 billion funding boost included in the 2025 reconciliation bill. The first operational B-21 is expected to be stationed at Ellsworth in 2027, with Northrop Grumman planning to produce seven operational bombers annually. The Pentagon has requested $6.1 billion for the B-21 program in its fiscal year 2027 budget proposal. The B-21 is designed to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons while penetrating advanced enemy air defenses and is expected to replace the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit. The Air Force plans to acquire at least 100 B-21 bombers. Additionally, planning for the Boeing-built F-47 has reached a high level of maturity, with the first flight scheduled for 2028. The Air Force intends to acquire 185 F-47 fighters, which will replace the F-22 Raptor as the primary air superiority fighter.