The first flight of the newest US strategic bomber was caught on video (4 photos + 1 video)
The cost of the aircraft is an incredible $750 million. 
Last night, the new Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider strategic bomber took to the skies for the first time from the plant in Palmdale, California. This was reported by BBC spokeswoman Anne Stefanek after footage from eyewitnesses was leaked online.
The B-21 Raider is undergoing flight testing, an important step in the testing campaign being conducted by the Air Force Test Center and the 412th Test Wing's Joint B-21 Test Group to ensure stability, range and strike power to deter aggression. and strategic attacks against the United States, as well as our allies and partners,” a US Air Force spokeswoman said.
It is reported that the promising B-21 should replace the B-1 and B-2 bombers in service with the US Air Force and become a key element of the US nuclear triad. It is noted that this is the first American aircraft for such tasks produced in the last 30 years.
The US Air Force Global Strike Command expects to receive the first sixth-generation strategic stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider, which is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons, into service as early as 2025.
The US Air Force plans to purchase at least 100 units of these stealth bombers. The cost of each is estimated at approximately $750 million. According to preliminary data, up to 12 such aircraft will be produced annually. For comparison: the Su-35S costs about $50 million.
Some American specialized (military) publications write that it will not be possible to completely replace outdated bombers; this is hampered by the incredible price of the new aircraft.
The B-21 was first introduced on December 2, 2022. In March 2023, the US Department of Defense reported that six aircraft were in production.
