WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), the Chair and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, today celebrated the launch of America’s new nuclear-capable B-21 bomber. The next-generation stealth plane, unveiled by the Air Force and Northrop Grumman, will replace parts of the nation’s aging bomber fleet and help modernize the United States’ nuclear defense against growing aggression from Russia and China.

For the last several years, Chairman King and Ranking Member Fischer have worked to modernize America’s land, air, and sea nuclear defenses – known as the Triad. Currently, only 10 percent of America’s bomber force is capable of penetrating advanced air defenses. As enemies continue investing in sophisticated technologies and weapons platforms like hypersonics, the capabilities of the new B-21 aircraft will be a critical deterrent for potential adversaries.

“As history has shown time and again, the cost of defense can be high, but the cost of war is much higher. To prevent war, we must invest in modern defense systems, like the B-21, that can meet the rapidly growing threats of our adversaries,” said Senator King. “This new next-generation aircraft sends a clear signal of deterrence to our adversaries and is a significant step in the critical process of updating our nation’s ability to address, prepare, and respond to potential threats. As Russia continues its unprovoked assault on Ukraine and China rapidly grows its nuclear arsenal, it is vitally important that the United States is not left relying on our current Cold War-era deterrents. I’m grateful for all the hard work done by the Air Force and Northrop Grumman to develop this aircraft, and will continue to conduct the oversight necessary to make this project and the rest of the triad modernization a success.”

“Earlier this week, a public report from the Dept. of Defense stated China will at least triple its nuclear arsenal by 2035. This is just the latest example of how the global threat environment we face is becoming more difficult. Tackling these challenges will require continued investments in the modernization of our nuclear triad, which is the bedrock of our national security. Thanks to the partnership between the Air Force and Northrop Grumman, the new B-21 will provide a significant capability upgrade to our aging bomber fleet.  I look forward to continuing to build on the progress we’ve made through our work on the Armed Services Committee,” said Senator Fischer. 

The U.S. Air Force has stated plans to acquire at least 100 aircraft which have been named “Raider” after the World War II ‘Doolittle Raiders’ that conducted a surprise attack on Japan. The planes will be a modern, next generation replacement for the current Cold War-era B-1 and B-2 bombers.

As Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Subcommittee on Strategic Forces – which oversees the United States’ nuclear posture – Senators King and Fischer have been bipartisan leaders in working to modernize the nation’s nuclear triad. They included provisions in the SASC-reported 2023 National Defense Authorization Act to improve offensive and defensive hypersonic capabilities, along with new funding to counter these threats. They previously helped to include support for the National Nuclear Security Administration, modernize missile defense systems to confront evolving threats, and fund nonproliferation programs to stem the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons across the globe in the FY22 NDAA.