USAF announced that the B‑21 Raider will be operated with a standard two‑pilot crew, the same as the B‑2 bomber, rather than the previously contemplated single‑pilot configuration with a weapon systems officer. An official release said the two‑pilot arrangement optimally supports the aircraft’s mission profile and allows the service to retain the tactical and combat experience of the WSO and combat systems officer communities. The decision follows a June test flight in which a pre‑production Raider was flown by an operational test pilot. The Air Force will establish a pilot transition program for selected weapons system officers and combat systems officers to attend pilot training and then be assigned to the B‑21 fleet. The bomber is expected to begin fielding at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota next year, with the service planning to acquire at least 100 aircraft and to release a precise production figure later in 2025. Gen. Stephen Davis, head of Air Force Global Strike Command, said the two‑pilot crew provides an additional margin of safety, crew rest capabilities, and facilities for food and sanitation during long sorties. While the current plan calls for two pilots, officials noted that advances in artificial intelligence and autonomy could enable an optionally piloted or single‑pilot mode in the future, though no final decision on crew size has been made.