US Air Force integrates operational pilot in B-21 Raider test flight

On June 11, 2026 at Edwards Air Force Base, an operational Air Force pilot flew the Northrop Grumman B‑21 Raider alongside a developmental test pilot, marking the first combined developmental‑operational test in the program. The Air Force said this approach shortens the traditional months‑or‑years testing schedule by allowing combat‑effectiveness feedback to be relayed to the contractor in near real‑time.

The move is part of a broader effort to accelerate the B‑21 modernization, which includes the Sentinel ICBM and the upcoming F‑47 aircraft. Officials expect a fleet of at least 200 B‑21 bombers to replace the B‑1B and B‑2 by the 2040s, with initial operational service projected for 2028. Col. Matt Guasco noted, “We put an operational test member in the pilot seat with an Air Force Test Pilot School graduate in the other,” while General Dale White said the integration “exemplifies the acquisition culture we’re instilling… a smarter and faster mindset.”