Whiteman and Dyess AFB Picked as Second and Third Bases to Host the B-21 Raider Bomber | Aviation

Whiteman Air Force Base is currently home to the B-2 Spirit, while Dyess Air Force Base hosts the B-1B Lancer. Both bases are slated to host the B-21 in the future.

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall has designated Whiteman AFB, Missouri, and Dyess AFB, Texas, as the second and third bases respectively, for the B-21 Raider, the Air Force’s newest strategic stealth bomber. Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, was previously selected as the first base to receive the B-21.

AFGSC quoted General Thomas Busseire in a statement: “We continue to achieve B-21 production milestones; through digital engineering and open architecture design, we are getting an agile strategic deterrent that delivers a decisive response as required.” It described the B-21 Raider as representing “a generational leap as a dual nuclear and conventionally capable, stealth, penetrating, long-range strike platform.”

The AFGSC is continuing to “maintain and modernize” the B-2 Spirit and the B-1 Lancer bombers for retaining “strike options” until the B-21 is delivered in the “mid-2020s.” The Air Force will purchase at least 100 B-21s, with the type currently in low-rate initial production and executing flight tests.