Military

Air Force Releases New Artist Rendering of Secretive B-21 Bomber

July 7, 2021Hannah Ray Lambert
new b-21 rendering

A new artist’s rendering, released July 6, 2021, depicts the future B-21 stealth bomber above Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. US Air Force graphic.

The US Air Force released a new artist’s rendering of the highly anticipated B-21 Raider stealth bomber Tuesday, using Edwards Air Force Base in California as the backdrop.


Few details or renderings have been released since the military announced in 2015 it had picked Northrop Grumman to build the aircraft. The B-21 Raiders are intended to replace the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers in the Air Force’s fleet. According to Northrop Grumman, the B-21 Raider is “designed to be long-range, highly survivable and capable of carrying a mix of conventional and nuclear ordnance.”


first b-21 rendering 2016
The first rendering of the long-range strike bomber, designated the B-21, was revealed in February 2016. US Air Force graphic.

“Nuclear modernization is a top priority for the Department of Defense and the Air Force, and B-21 is key to that plan,” Randall Walden, director of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, said in a statement. “The built-in feature of open systems architecture on the B-21 makes the bomber effective as the threat environment evolves. This aircraft design approach sets the nation on the right path to ensuring America’s enduring airpower capability.”


Edwards AFB will host all flight and ground testing for the B-21, according to a statement from the Air Force. Initial testing will happen after the bomber’s first flight, which is currently expected to happen in mid-2022, Air Force Magazine reported, a delay from the previous December 2021 liftoff goal.


second b-21 rendering 2020
A second round of artist’s renderings, released in January 2020, depicts the B-21 in various Air Force hangars. US Air Force graphic.

Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota is slated to be the first operational base to receive B-21s sometime in the mid-2020s, according to the Air Force. 


The B-21 comes with an average procurement unit cost of $639 million per plane, according to the Air Force. Officials have previously stated plans to buy 145 of the aircraft.


Artist renderings over the past few years have shown the stealth bomber floating serenely over cumulus clouds and inserted into hangars at Ellsworth AFB, Whiteman AFB in Missouri, and Dyess AFB in Texas.


Read Next: 1st Marine F-35C Squadron Is Now Fully Operational



Hannah Ray Lambert
Hannah Ray Lambert

Hannah Ray Lambert is a former staff writer for Coffee or Die who previously covered everything from murder trials to high school trap shooting teams. She spent several months getting tear gassed during the 2020-2021 civil unrest in Portland, Oregon. When she’s not working, Hannah enjoys hiking, reading, and talking about authors and books on her podcast Between Lewis and Lovecraft.

More from Coffee or Die Magazine
Coffee Or Die Photo
From the Team Room to Team Room Design: An Operator’s Creative Journey

BRCC partners with Team Room Design for an exclusive T-shirt release!

Coffee Or Die Photo
Get Your Viking On: The Exclusive 30 Sec Out BRCC Shirt Club Design

Thirty Seconds Out has partnered with BRCC for an exclusive shirt design invoking the God of Winter.

Grizzly Forge BRCC shirt
Limited Edition: Grizzly Forge Blades on an Awesome BRCC Shirt

Lucas O'Hara of Grizzly Forge has teamed up with BRCC for a badass, exclusive Shirt Club T-shirt design featuring his most popular knife and tiomahawk.

BRCC Limited Edition Josh Raulerson Blackbeard Skull Shirt
From Naval Service to Creative Canvas: BRCC Veteran Artist Josh Raulerson

Coffee or Die sits down with one of the graphic designers behind Black Rifle Coffee's signature look and vibe.

Medal of Honor is held up.
Biden Will Award Medal of Honor to Army Helicopter Pilot Who Rescued Soldiers in Vietnam Firefight

Biden will award the Medal of Honor to a Vietnam War Army helicopter pilot who risked his life to save a reconnaissance team from almost certain death.

dear jack mandaville
Dear Jack: Which Historic Battle Would You Want To Witness?

Ever wonder how much Jack Mandaville would f*ck sh*t up if he went back in time? The American Revolution didn't even see him coming.

west point time capsule
West Point Time Capsule Yields Centuries-Old Coins

A nearly 200-year-old West Point time capsule that at first appeared to yield little more than dust contains hidden treasure, the US Military Academy said.

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
Contact Us
Contact Us
© 2024 Coffee or Die Magazine. All Rights Reserved