The US Air Force has officially decided on the crew composition of the перспективный strategic bomber B-21 Raider. The aircraft will be flown by two pilots, just like the current B-2 Spirit. Thus, the Air Force has abandoned the previously considered concept that envisioned a crew consisting of one pilot and a weapons systems officer.

The official announcement of the decision came a month after the US Air Force reported that a test pilot had flown a pre-production B-21 Raider for the first time as part of the operational testing program, Naked Science reports.

“After a careful analysis of the B-21’s expanded capabilities, Air Force leadership concluded that a two-pilot configuration best matches the aircraft’s missions,” the official statement said.

Like the B-21, the current strategic bomber B-2 Spirit is operated by a crew of two pilots. Inside the aircraft, there is even a small sleeping area that allows one of the pilots to rest while the other flies the plane. This is especially important during ultra-long combat missions, which can last several days.

In addition, having a second pilot significantly increases flight safety. Although, if the single-pilot option had been implemented, the Air Force could also have provided additional training for weapons systems officers in piloting the aircraft in an emergency situation.

Although development of the B-21 Raider is still ongoing, the Air Force expects to begin deploying the new bombers as early as next year at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota.

The official plan still calls for the procurement of at least 100 B-21 aircraft, but Air Force representatives have already said that next year they intend to announce the final order volume, which is expected to be significantly larger than the original figure. Accordingly, the need to train new pilots will also increase.