Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James announced Monday the new B-21 stealth bomber to be built by Northrop Grumman in Palmdale will be known as the “Raider.”
Northrop Grumman, which has extensive operations in the San Diego area, serves as the prime contractor for the long-range bomber, which will be capable of striking any target worldwide.
“The B-21’s name embodies the legacy and power projection of the Air Force’s long range strike capability. We are proud to partner with the Air Force to deliver a system that is so vital to our national security,” said Tom Vice, president of Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.
“As the only company to ever design, build, deliver and modernize a long-range stealth system, we are committed to delivering the fleet of bombers for the 21st century,” he added.
Little information has been released about the B-21 and its capabilities, though company renderings show a flying wing design similar to the B-2 bomber.
Plans call for building 100 of the new aircraft at a plant in Palmdale outside of Los Angeles. The bomber is expected to be operational the 2020s.