The U.S. Air Force conducted its first weapons release test for the B-21 Raider stealth bomber last week, demonstrating the aircraft's ability to deploy conventional munitions and marking a major step toward its role as an operational weapons platform.

The test involved a B-21 flying from Edwards Air Force Base in California and releasing a conventional weapon. The Air Force said the demonstration confirmed that the bomber's digital models and open systems architecture performed as expected.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach said the successful test showed the program was making strong progress. The service also reported that development remains ahead of schedule, with the first operational aircraft expected to arrive at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota in 2027.

Northrop Grumman received the B-21 development contract in 2015. The company leads a group of industry partners that includes Pratt & Whitney, Janicki Industries, Collins Aerospace, GKN Aerospace, BAE Systems, and Boeing subsidiary Spirit AeroSystems.

Designed to penetrate advanced air defense networks, the B-21 is intended to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons. The stealth bomber is a central part of the Air Force's plans to modernize its long-range strike capabilities and replace older aircraft as the United States prepares for increasingly sophisticated military threats.