The audio for this piece is presented courtesy of the Air & Space Forces Association, commemorating and assisting our service members, space professionals, and their kin. Discover further details at afa.org
On March 10, above Edwards Air Force Base, California, aircraft aficionados observed a momentous spectacle: the United States Air Force’s novel B-21 bomber soaring next to its seasoned, Eisenhower-period KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft.
A spokesperson for the Air Force clarified to Air & Space Forces Magazine that, despite the sortie prompting conjecture about the B-21 commencing in-air replenishment trials, it was in fact a “near-distance sortie,” signifying that the B-21 did not physically connect with the KC-135’s refueling arm.
The representative stated, “We verify that a B-21 Raider concluded a trial occurrence comprising a near-distance flight with a KC-135 Stratotanker. This particular sortie contributes to the continuous, demanding trial program aimed at affirming the B-21’s aptitudes and operational preparedness.”
The intricate airflow dynamics of two aircraft operating in close proximity pose complexities, and near-flight examinations probably foreshadow comprehensive in-flight replenishment trials in the future. Nevertheless, the Air Force refrained from making a statement regarding that particular aspect.
“In order to uphold heightened security protocols, we shall not furnish additional particulars concerning precise test parameters. The B-21 initiative continues its trajectory toward providing a resilient, extended-range, deep-strike capacity to the U.S. Air Force,” the representative conveyed.
Images depicting the refueling aircraft-bomber duo rapidly circulated across social platforms, with an F-16 escort aircraft likewise discernable.
Commencing operations in 1957, the KC-135 Stratotanker is currently projected to operate until 2050 or perhaps later—an extraordinarily extended operational lifespan rivaled solely by the bomber it was initially procured to replenish: the B-52 Stratofortress.
Concurrently, the B-21 is progressing swiftly towards the commencement of its operational tenure, with its inaugural bomber anticipated for delivery to an active base by 2027, as the Air Force declared last month. The initial Raider initiated flight assessments from Edwards in early 2024, and a subsequent airframe became part of the effort in September 2025. At that juncture, authorities indicated that this second aircraft would enable them to initiate trials of “weaponry and mission apparatus,” contrasting with the initial aircraft’s focus solely on airworthiness and maneuvering attributes.
The precise identity of the trial aircraft participating in the sortie alongside the KC-135 remains undisclosed.
Here’s a few shots I snapped of the B-21 doing AR tests over California yesterday. Much more to come later 🤙 pic.twitter.com/2yEWXsqyUU— jmh.creates (@JarodMHamilton) March 11, 2026
The audio for this piece is presented courtesy of the Air & Space Forces Association, commemorating and assisting our service members, space professionals, and their kin. Discover further details at afa.org