Colonel KEITH J. BUTLER, Commander of the 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri | Whiteman Air Force Base
Colonel KEITH J. BUTLER, Commander of the 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri | Whiteman Air Force Base
The Secretary of the Air Force has approved Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and Dyess Air Force Base in Texas as the second and third basing locations for the B-21 Raider, the Air Force’s newest bomber. Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota was previously selected as the first base to receive the B-21.
“We continue to achieve B-21 production milestones; through digital engineering and open architecture design, we are getting an agile strategic deterrent that delivers a decisive response as required,” said Gen. Thomas Bussiere, Air Force Global Strike Command commander.
The B-21 Raider represents a generational leap as a dual nuclear and conventionally capable, stealth, penetrating, long-range strike platform. The Air Force Global Strike will remain ready and provide strike options for the country by continuing to maintain, modernize, and keep its B-1 and B-2 bombers in service until the B-21 is delivered in the mid-2020s.
The Air Force will purchase at least 100 B-21s. The strategic long-range bomber is currently in low-rate production and executing flight tests.
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