Page 1 - Aerotech News and Review, Sept. 20, 2019

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B-21 Raider to be built, tested in Antelope Valley

Acting Secretary of the Air Force
Matthew Donovan confirmed Sept.
16 what many in the Antelope Val-
ley already suspected: that the B-21
Raider is being produced in Northrop
Grumman’s Palmdale, Calif., facility
— the same location as its predecessor,
the B-2 Spirit.
In addition, the 420th Flight Test
Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base,
Calif., will be reactivated to support
testing of the B-21 Raider, as it did
for the B-2.
While speaking at the Air Force
Association’s Air, Space and Cyber
Conference, Donovan remarked on the
Air Force’s B-21 program noting, “the
development of the B-21 Raider is on
schedule and the first test aircraft is
under production at the same produc-
tion facility in Palmdale, California,
as its predecessor, the B-2. The first
flight of the Raider will take it from
Palmdale to Edwards AFB, where the
legacy of excellence will continue
with the reactivation of the 420th
Flight Test Squadron.”
Northrop Grumman has not com-
mented on how many jobs the contract
will eventually support, but estimates
put it at about 1,100.
The B-21 Raider will be a highly
survivable, next-generation bomber
with the ability to penetrate modern erating base locations of Ellsworth community and is committed to maxi- Its mission was pro-operational testing to the 419th Flight Test Squadron and
air defenses and hold any target at risk AFB, S.D., Whiteman AFB, Mo., mizing transparency of key program of the B-2 Spirit bomber. the squadron was inactivated at the end
globally. The program has a mature and Dyess AFB, Texas. These three information while balancing the need On Oct. 1, 1992, the 6520th Test of 1997.
and stable design and is transitioning bomber bases will continue their long to protect vital technologies and capa- Squadron was consolidated with the The 420th was later reactivated at
to manufacturing development of the heritage of equipping and supporting bilities from adversary exploitation. 420th Air Refueling Squadron. The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in
first test aircraft in Palmdale. The Air Air Force Global Strike Command as While the 420th Test Squadron can next day the consolidated unit was re- Arizona as the 420th Flight Test Flight
Force Rapid Capabilities Office along they prepare for the arrival of the next trace its historical lineage back to June named the 420th Test Squadron. where it was responsible for testing the
with the 420th Flight Test Squadron generation bomber. 1, 1943, as a night fighter training By January 1997, the B-2 had Northrop T-38 Talon. The squadron
at Edwards AFB will ensure delivery The Air Force continuously evalu- squadron, its testing history dates to reached limited operational capabil- was inactivated Oct. 31, 2007, when
of this asymmetric capability to the ates the B-21 Raider program security March 1989 when it was activated as ity and testing at Edwards was phased the T-38 cockpit upgrade program was
warfighter at the preferred main op- posture with input from the intelligence the 6520th Test Squadron at Edwards. down. B-2 flight testing was transferred completed.

Edwards member loses life in parachute accident

A member of Team Edwards lost his life Sept. 10, 2019, during a training parachute accident.
Staff Sgt. Adam Erickson, 29, was killed during a routine military proficiency jump.
Erickson, of Ojai, Calif., joined the U.S. Air Force in November 2011 and had served almost
8 years.
Erickson served in Qatar in 2016 as part of the Joint Personnel Recovery Center and in 2019
in Romania as the Jumpmaster and Operations liaison.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss. Adam touched many lives during his time here
and our hearts and prayers go out to his family, friends and coworkers,” said Brig. Gen. E. John
Teichert, commander, 412th Test Wing.
Erickson received the Air Force Commendation medal and twice received the Air Force

Achievement medal.

September 20, 2019 • Volume 33, Issue 16 Serving the aerospace industry since 1986 Use your smartphone to connect to
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