Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and the United States Air Force today introduced the B-21 Raider to the world. The B-21 joins the nuclear trio as a highly visible and flexible deterrent designed to fulfill the US Air Force’s most demanding missions.

“The Northrop Grumman team develops and delivers technology that advances science, looks to the future, and brings it here and now,” said Cathy Worden, president, CEO, and president of Northrop Grumman. “The B-21 Raider defines a new era in technology and strengthens America’s role in keeping the peace through deterrence.”

The B-21 Raider lays the foundation for the future for the US Air Force, leading a powerful family of systems that enable a new era of capability and flexibility through advanced integration of data, sensors and weapons. Sixth generation capabilities include privacy, information superiority, and open architecture.

“The B-21 Raider is a testament to America’s enduring power of creativity and innovation. And this is testament to the Department’s long-term commitment to building advanced capabilities that will strengthen America’s ability to deter aggression today and in the future. “Strengthening and maintaining US deterrence is now central to our national defense strategy,” said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. “This bomber was created with strong bipartisan support in Congress. And thanks to that support, we will soon be flying this aircraft, testing it, and then going into production.”

The B-21 is capable of networking with multiple systems on the battlefield and across all spheres of influence. The B-21 can evolve rapidly with rapid technological upgrades that provide new capabilities to stay one step ahead of future threats, supporting a digital ecosystem throughout its lifecycle.

“With the B-21, the US Air Force will be able to deter or defeat threats anywhere in the world,” said Tom Jones, Corporate Vice President and President, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems. “The B-21 demonstrates how Northrop Grumman is leading the way in digital transformation and digital engineering, ultimately adding more value to our customers.”

Named the B-21 Raider, Doolittle’s 2nd B-21 designation, Raider 21, when 80 men and 16 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers led by Lieutenant Colonel James “Jimmy” Doolittle went on a mission that changed the course of World War II. Considered the first bomber of the th century.

Northrop Grumman is a technology company focused on global security and human discovery. Our innovative solutions provide our customers with the capabilities they need to connect, advance and protect the United States and its allies. Guided by the shared goal of solving our customers’ most complex problems, our 90,000 employees define what’s possible every day. Source