America’s newest nuclear stealth bomber made its debut Friday after years of secret development and as part of the Pentagon’s answer to rising concerns over a future conflict with China

America’s newest nuclear stealth bomber made its debut Friday after years of secret development and as part of the #Pentagon’s answer to rising concerns over a future conflict with China.

The #B21Raider is the first new American bomber aircraft in more than 30 years. Almost every aspect of the program is classified.

“This isn’t just another airplane,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. “It’s the embodiment of America’s determination to defend the republic that we all love.”

The B-21 is part of the Pentagon’s efforts to modernize all three legs of its nuclear triad, which includes silo-launched nuclear ballistic missiles and submarine-launched warheads, as it shifts from the counterterrorism campaigns of recent decades to meet China’s rapid military modernization.

It is unclear how much the B-21 Raider cost to be made, but it is estimated to be around $753 million..