Northrop Grumman is accelerating the delivery schedule for the B-21 Raider, the forthcoming stealth aircraft in development for the U.S. Air Force, as part of its Long Range Strike Bomber program. The decision follows an agreement between the USAF and Northrop to expand production capacity for the new aircraft by 25%, applying $4.5 billion in funds authorized and appropriated in the FY2025 reconciliation legislation (the “One Big Beautiful Bill”.)
Sec. of the Air Force Troy Meink explained that “accelerating production capacity now ensures we deliver operational capability to combatant commanders faster - strengthening our ability to outpace, deter, and, if necessary, defeat emerging threats.”
“The strong performance of the B-21 program has our Northrop Grumman and Air Force team ready to accelerate production of this game-changing capability for our nation,” stated Northrop chairwoman, CEO, and president Kathy Warden.
According to a USAF statement, in addition to increasing the funding schedule the agreement will compress delivery timelines “while preserving cost and performance discipline.”
“This decision reflects our confidence in the program’s performance and the stability of the industrial base,” stated Gen. Dale R. White, director, Critical Major Weapon Systems and direct reporting portfolio manager to the Deputy Secretary of War. “By increasing production capacity now, we are responsibly accelerating delivery of a critical, combat-effective capability to the warfighter.”
Neither Northrop nor the Air Force indicated the new production rate for the aircraft, which is classified information. The previous funding covered Low-Rate Initial Production, which has been understood to cover a total of 21 aircraft, or seven per year. The initial projections by the USAF anticipated 100 B-21 aircraft in total.
The new rate of production likely would increase production to about eight aircraft per year.
The first B-21 Raider aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2027.
The B-21 is a strategic bomber capable of delivering conventional and thermonuclear weapons, but smaller and lighter than the current B-52, B-1, and B-2 bombers. Like the latter, it is a flying wing design with Stealth technology, and reportedly designed with an eye to combat in Asia.
The aircraft is currently in assembly operations at Northrop Grumman’s plants Palmdale, Calif., plant, with manufacturing at other domestic U.S. operations. “Northrop Grumman has invested more than $5 billion in digital engineering and manufacturing infrastructure, and we are ready to produce B-21 faster,” according to Warden.
Northrop reported the new aircraft is proceeding through ground and flight tests “successfully.”
“The aircraft continue to outperform digital model expectations, reaffirming confidence in our design and production quality,” the developer stated.
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Robert Brooks
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Robert Brooks has been a business-to-business reporter, writer, editor, and columnist for more than 20 years, specializing in the primary metal and basic manufacturing industries.