Air Force secretary visits Ellsworth AFB as B-21 Raider facilities reach historic milestone

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. — Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink visited Ellsworth Air Force Base June 30–July 1 to review 28th Bomb Wing B-1B Lancer operations and progress toward fielding the B-21 Raider, the Air Force said.

During the visit, the service said Meink received briefings on topics ranging from ongoing B-1B activities to construction of facilities tailored for the B-21. Ellsworth recently took formal acceptance of two key projects: the $161 million Low Observable Restoration Facility and the $81 million Wash Rack and General Maintenance Hangar.

“Taking ownership of these facilities is a step toward fielding advanced capabilities at scale,” Meink said. “The infrastructure completed today is truly innovative, allowing us to preserve the technological edge and deliver the long-range deterrence our nation depends on.”

Engineered specifically for the B-21, the new buildings will enable maintainers to inspect, clean, and service the aircraft’s radar-absorbent materials indoors, a setup intended to cut downtime, according to the Air Force.

Following acceptance, the 28th Bomb Wing deployed fit-out teams to both facilities to install computers, furnishings, and secure operational equipment in preparation for active use, the service said.

Col. Jonathan Keller, the 28th Bomb Wing commander, briefed Meink on how the wing is sustaining global B-1B operations while advancing B-21-related construction and other preparatory work for what the Air Force describes as the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft. “The base is actively flying the B-1 globally while simultaneously building the infrastructure for the next generation of airpower,” Keller said. “Accepting the keys to our first B-21 facilities is exciting for our Airmen, our civil engineer teams and the community partners who support our long-range strike mission.”

The Low Observable Restoration Facility and the Wash Rack are the first completed projects within an estimated $2 billion construction effort at Ellsworth. The base is slated to host the B-21 Formal Training Unit and serve as the first main operating base for the Raider, the Air Force said.