PALMDALE, Calif. — Scored by the percussion of a bomber fleet flyover and chants of “USA!” Friday from a wall of Northrop Grumman employees, after seven years of development and a legacy dating back 80 years, the B-21 Raider was unveiled at Northrop Grumman’s and the U.S. Department of Defense's Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.
Col. Joseph L. Sheffield, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, comments on what the new B-21 bomber will mean to the base ahead of the unveiling ceremony on Friday.
The Northrop Grumman X-47B, left, and Northrop B-2 Spirit, also known as the "Stealth Bomber," were on display during an expo ahead of the B-21 unveiling ceremony on Friday.
The brand-new, B-21 bomber was pulled out of a hangar during an unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4, Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III gives remarks during the B-21 unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4, Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson, left, greets Col. Joseph L. Sheffield, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base while they attend the B-21 Unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
The cover the B-21 bomber is pulled off the bomber during an unveiling ceremony for the new bomber on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
The new B-21 is parked just outside of the hanger during an unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
The new B-21 is parked just outside of the hanger during an unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III heads back to his seats after giving remarks while Kathy Warden, Chief Executive Officer and President of Northrop Grumman Corporation, heads to the podium during the B-21 Unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
Kathy Warden, Chief Executive Officer and President of Northrop Grumman Corporation, speaks ahead of the B-21 Unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
Tom Jones, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman’s Aeronautics Systems sector, visits with guests at the expo while the Colonel attends the B-21 Unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
The cover the B-21 bomber is pulled off the bomber during an unveiling ceremony for the new bomber on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
The cover the B-21 bomber is pulled off the bomber during an unveiling ceremony for the new bomber on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
The cover the B-21 bomber is pulled off the bomber during an unveiling ceremony for the new bomber on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
The doors to the hanger open up as the brand new B-21 bomber is draped in a sheet during an unveiling ceremony for the new bomber on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
The new B-21 is parked just outside of the hanger during an unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III gives remarks during the B-21 Unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
Invited guests and Northrup Grumman employees check out the expo ahead of the B-21 Unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Cali.
Matt Gade
The EA-18G Growler was out on display during an expo ahead of the B-21 Unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
The Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye was one of the aeronautical machines out on display during an expo ahead of the B-21 Unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
The Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye was one of the aeronautical machines out on display during an expo ahead of the B-21 Unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
The Northrop B-2 Spirit, also known as the "Stealth Bomber," was out on display during an expo ahead of the B-21 Unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
Col. Joseph L. Sheffield, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base visits with guests at the expo while the Colonel attends the B-21 Unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
A North American B-25 Mitchell was out on display during an expo ahead of the B-21 Unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
A North American B-25 Mitchell was out on display during an expo ahead of the B-21 Unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton was one of the aeronautical machines out on display during an expo ahead of the B-21 Unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III gives remarks during the B-21 Unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4 Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III gives remarks during the B-21 unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4, Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade, Journal staff
Col. Joseph L. Sheffield, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, comments on what the new B-21 bomber will mean to the base ahead of the unveiling ceremony on Friday.
Matt Gade, Journal staff
U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., left, and U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., attended the B-21 unveiling ceremony on Friday.
Matt Gade, Journal staff
The brand-new, B-21 bomber was pulled out of a hangar during an unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4, Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade, Journal staff
The doors to the hangar open up as the brand-new B-21 bomber is draped in a sheet during an unveiling ceremony on Friday.
Matt Gade, Journal staff
The Northrop Grumman X-47B, left, and Northrop B-2 Spirit, also known as the "Stealth Bomber," were on display during an expo ahead of the B-21 unveiling ceremony on Friday.
Matt Gade, Journal staff
Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender, left, is greeted by Gen. John R. Edwards, a member of the National Security Council and former commander of the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, while attending an expo ahead of the B-21 unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4, Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade, Journal staff
The new B-21 was parked just outside of the hangar during an unveiling ceremony on Friday.
Matt Gade, Journal staff
Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender, left, is greeted by Gen. John R. Edwards, a member of the National Security Council and former commander of the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, while attending an expo ahead of the B-21 unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4, Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Matt Gade, Journal staff
The doors to the hangar open up as the brand-new B-21 bomber is draped in a sheet during an unveiling ceremony on Friday.
The brand-new, B-21 bomber was pulled out of a hangar during an unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4, Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
Col. Joseph L. Sheffield, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, comments on what the new B-21 bomber will mean to the base ahead of the unveiling ceremony on Friday.
The Northrop Grumman X-47B, left, and Northrop B-2 Spirit, also known as the "Stealth Bomber," were on display during an expo ahead of the B-21 unveiling ceremony on Friday.
Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender, left, is greeted by Gen. John R. Edwards, a member of the National Security Council and former commander of the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, while attending an expo ahead of the B-21 unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4, Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III gives remarks during the B-21 unveiling ceremony on Friday at Air Force Plant 42, Site 4, Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.
