U.S. Air Force Accelerates $2 Billion Upgrade of Ellsworth Base for First B-21 Raider Bomber Operations

The U.S. Air Force is accelerating a nearly $2 billion transformation of Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota to become the first operational base for the B-21 Raider bomber, formally activating B-21 Integration Detachment 1 on September 9, 2026, to prepare for the first Raider deliveries planned for 2027.