Whiteman and Dyess AFBs Selected to Home the Bomber

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall recently designated Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and Dyess Air Force Base in Texas as the second and third locations for the B-21 Raider. These locations will join the first base, Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota.

Ellsworth AFB was the first designated location for the bomber. It houses the formal B-21 training unit and is the first base to begin construction. The Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) got to work building and renovating more than 20 major facilities in September 2021 and has been making steady progress since.

Whiteman Air Force Base, located in central Missouri, was selected as the second base for the B-21 Raider due to its existing infrastructure. Home to the 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman is currently home base for the B-2 Spirit bomber and has a history of supporting advanced air combat operations. The addition of the B-21 Raider will further enhance the base’s capabilities, allowing it to support both current and next-generation bomber fleets.

Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas, will be the third B-21 base. Known for housing the 7th Bomb Wing, which currently operates the B-1B Lancer, Dyess is positioned for a range of combat operations. Dyess Air Force Base’s infrastructure and operational experience with heavy bombers allow for easy integration of the B-21.

The B-21 Raider is the U.S. Air Force’s latest stealth bomber. Its capabilities include dual nuclear and conventional strike options. Currently, the B-21 Raider is in low-rate production and undergoing flight tests, with plans to build at least a 100-aircraft fleet. It is designed for long-range missions in contested environments, providing a modernized alternative to the B-1 and B-2.

“We continue to achieve B-21 production milestones; through digital engineering and open architecture design, we are getting an agile strategic deterrent that delivers a decisive response as required,” commented Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command.

Whiteman and Dyess Air Force Bases will be integral to the B-21’s operational readiness and deployment. Meanwhile, the Air Force will continue to modernize and maintain its current bomber fleet until the B-21 is fully operational in the mid-2020s.

FMI: www.af.mil