"Pentagon Approves B-21 Raider for Production After Successful Tests"
The Pentagon has approved the B-21 Raider for low-rate production following successful ground and flight tests, with plans to field at least 100 of the Northrop Grumman-made stealth bombers by the mid-2020s. The B-21, designed for deep strike missions against advanced adversaries, is set to replace the B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit in the 2030s and will form part of a two-bomber fleet alongside upgraded B-52J Stratofortresses. The program is expected to cost $203 billion over 30 years, with each bomber having an average procurement cost of $692 million.