ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. (WNAX) – South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, along with the state’s Congressional delegation held a celebration in Rapid City Saturday marking the designation of Ellsworth Air Force Base as one of the homes of the new “B-21 Raider” long range bomber.

Senator John Thune says the bomber will be vital for national security.

While the bomber is still under development, and none have been built yet, Thune says the Air Force is making a commitment to the program.

Thune says there will be changes at Ellsworth fairly soon to prepare for the bomber.

The Air Force has said they hope to deploy the new planes by the “mid 2020s.”