B-21 Program Approaching Critical Design Review

The critical design review for the B-21 Raider, a major milestone, is set to wrap up by the end of 2018. (Air Force)

National Defense: B-21 Program Approaching Critical Design Review

The Air Force’s secretive B-21 stealth bomber project is expected to undergo a critical design review in the coming months, a top service official said June 25.

The review, also known as a CDR, is a key technical assessment for major acquisition programs.

“We haven’t done CDR yet [but] we are on our way to critical design review,” said Randy Walden, director and program executive officer for the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, which is shepherding the B-21 program.

“I suspect it will be done before the end of the year. That's our plan today,” he said during remarks at an Air Force Association event in Arlington, Virginia.

The B-21 Raider is one the Defense Department’s top acquisition priorities. Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the effort.

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Update: The new B-21 Raider could hit a big milestone this year (Defense News)

WNU Editor: There is some truth to this ....

Going from award to CDR in less than three years is pretty darn fast in Big Defense Aerospace time. https://t.co/OGHsyAYVna

— Will Collier (@willcollier) June 25, 2018