B-21 Bomber officially named: Raider
NewsSeptember 20, 2016
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. U.S Air Force officials announced the results of the Air Force Global Strike Command naming contest formally designating the long-range striker bomber as the B-21 Raider.
With more than 2,100 unique naming submissions, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James made the announcement at the Air Force Association’s Air, Space, and Cyber Conference on September 19, 2016. “Today I want to recognize three Airmen who answered the call to be a part of a new Air Force legacy and name our new bomber,” James says. “The first two … submitted proposals that captured the essence of the bomber force and they are the winners of our contest.”
The third Airmen James recognized was Doolittle Raider retired Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole. Air Force officials explain that the Doolittle Raiders are known for their surprise attack against Japan during World War II on April 18, 1942, which forced the Japanese to recall combat forces for home defense, and boosted morale among Americans and U.S. allies abroad.
Secretary James and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein selected the name with the help of a panel - composed of staff from AFGSC and Headquarters Air Force - who determined the top-ranking selections.
The B-21 Raider is designed to meet a set of requirements that allow the use of existing and mature technology. It is currently in the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase and the Air Force plans to field the initial capability of the aircraft in mid-2020s.
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Northrop Grumman Corp. is the prime contractor for the B-21 Raider. The industry team to design, build, and deliver includes BAE Systems, GKN Aerospace, Janicki Industries, Orbital ATK, Pratt & Whitney, Rockwell Collins, and Spirit AeroSystems.
Learn more about the B-21 Raider at www.B21Raider.com.
