U.S. Air Force

B‑21 Raider Moves Forward: Key Progress

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A second B-21 Raider, the nation’s sixth-generation stealth bomber, joins flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 11. The program is a cornerstone of the Department of the Air Force’s nuclear modernization strategy, designed to deliver both conventional and nuclear payloads. (Courtesy photo)

Northrop Grumman has delivered a second B‑21 Raider flight test aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base. The addition of this second aircraft significantly boosts the flight test campaign.

The testing is now moving beyond basic flight performance — the focus is shifting to mission systems and weapons integration, which are critical for future operational capability.

Ground test efforts continue in parallel. Engineers are subjecting the Raider to extreme mission condition simulations and durability testing (e.g. simulated lifetimes), and so far it’s been performing better than earlier digital models predicted.

Support, Sustainment, & Upgrades

Northrop Grumman is developing an enhanced software package aimed at enabling the B‑21 fleet to receive seamless updates—ensuring that the aircraft’s mission capabilities and weapons systems can evolve to meet future threats.

For training and maintenance, the company is putting in place full‑scale support systems: simulators, immersive labs, virtual environments, and a Fleet Management Tool for maintenance and sustainment. This infrastructure is designed so that when B‑21s are deployed, squadron crews, maintainers, and support personnel are ready.

Bigger Picture & Strategic Implications

The expansion of testing with more aircraft accelerates the path toward operational readiness. Having more test assets allows for faster validation of systems, weapons, and mission performance.

The B‑21 is being positioned as a cornerstone of the U.S. long‑range strike capability, incorporating both nuclear and conventional roles.

From Newsroom at Northrup Grumman https://news.northropgrumman.com/b-21-raider/Northrop-Grumman-Advances-B-21-Raider-Across-Test-and-Production

Satellite Network Boosts Next-Gen Airpower

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Today’s SDA Payload Launch Marks a Pivotal Boost to Space Force Support for Next-Gen Fighter Operations. Many of you perhaps saw it if you were in the area.

At 7:12 a.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base carrying 21 Transport Layer satellites—the first operational satellites of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA)—launching a new era in resilient military communications.

Reconstituted under the U.S. Space Force in October 2022, SDA’s mission is to build and operate a hardened, low-earth orbit mesh network of satellites that delivers rapid command-and-control connectivity—even in contested environments. This launch, executed under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 contract with Space Systems Command, marks the first tranche of operational transport satellites vital to realizing that vision.

Built by York Space Systems, these 21 satellites form a flexible, distributed network using optical inter-satellite links (OISLs). This mesh architecture ensures low-latency, beyond-line-of-sight data relay, allowing real-time connectivity from space to units on the ground or in the air.

Modern and future fighters like NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) and upgraded F-35 variants will rely heavily on instant data access—whether for coordinated targeting, sensor fusion, or threat detection. The SDA Transport Layer will serve as an invisible force-multiplier, enabling seamless exchanges of video feeds, radar tracks, and targeting data directly to cockpit systems—even across vast distances. SDA’s mesh network acts as a “space relay,” overcoming the geographic limits of traditional Link 16 radio, and enabling secure, persistent connectivity—from Hawaii to Guam and beyond.

This launch is more than hardware in orbit—it represents a shift toward integrated multi-domain operations, anchoring air-to-space synergy and ensuring fighter wings remain connected, informed, and lethal. The resilience embedded in a distributed architecture yields depth, survivability, and coverage that legacy satellite systems can’t match.

For those who missed the live stream, SpaceX’s official webcast of the SDA T1TL-B launch—including launch, booster recovery, and commentary—is still available via their site: Watch the SDA T1TL-B Launch Here: https://www.spacex.com/launches/sda-t1tl-b

With this successful deployment, the SDA’s PWSA takes its first operational step toward delivering real-time space-enabled connectivity to the warfighter. AFA members should stay engaged with SDA and Space Force developments—as these satellites transform the battlefield, reinforcing that space is no longer the final frontier—it’s the next tactical domain.

Pivotal eVTOL Lands Vertically: A Glimpse into the Future of Electric Aviation

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The future of flight is unfolding before our eyes. In this demonstration last Sunday in Palm Desert California, the Pivotal eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft executes a seamless vertical landing, showcasing its potential as a next-generation personal aerial vehicle.

Pivotal’s design represents a significant step forward in urban air mobility, offering a sustainable, efficient, and quiet alternative to traditional transportation. Its all-electric propulsion system reduces emissions while allowing for versatile flight capabilities, making it a promising solution for both commercial and public service applications.

Beyond private sector development, Pivotal is actively collaborating with Agility Prime, a U.S. Air Force program under AFWERX, which is dedicated to accelerating the adoption of eVTOL technology for defense and government operations. This partnership highlights the growing interest in electric aviation not only for civilian transportation but also for tactical, logistical, and emergency response missions.

As the aviation industry shifts toward sustainable and autonomous flight, advancements like Pivotal’s eVTOL are paving the way for a new era of air mobility. With support from programs like Agility Prime, the integration of electric aircraft into mainstream use is becoming an increasingly viable reality.