The US Air Force is nearing an agreement with Northrop Grumman to accelerate the production of the B-21 Raider aircraft. A stealth bomber fleet of at least 100 aircraft will be established.
The US Air Force is nearing a critical agreement with Northrop Grumman to accelerate the production process of the next-generation stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider. The aim of the agreement is to bring forward the delivery schedule and achieve operational capability sooner, while maintaining the planned strategic bomber fleet of at least 100 aircraft.
According to information from defense circles, the program is currently in its low-rate initial production phase. A $4.5 billion capacity increase is planned to expand the production infrastructure, with no changes anticipated to the minimum target of a 100-aircraft fleet. Northrop Grumman CEO Kathy Warden recently announced that the B-21 Raider program is moving into the production phase.
It Will Be Dual-Capable
The B-21 Raider is designed as a dual-capable deep-penetrating bomber, capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear ordnance. Its primary mission is to replace the B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit fleets, which are planned to be gradually phased out of inventory by 2040. In the long term, a structure that could also replace the B-52 Stratofortress platform is envisioned.
The B-21 completed its first flight in November 2023, marking a significant milestone in the US's process of modernizing its bomber fleet. The aircraft is planned to officially enter service by 2027.
In terms of technical specifications, the B-21 is reported to have a wingspan of approximately 40 meters, a length of 16 meters, and an empty weight of approximately 32,000 kilograms. Thanks to its advanced low-observability (stealth) design, the aircraft's radar cross-section is minimized, aiming to increase its survivability in areas protected by dense air defense systems. The platform, stated to have a maximum speed of around Mach 0.8, is optimized for long-range missions.
According to defense sources, Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force are working on an agreement to accelerate deliveries. Warden stated that the official agreement could be signed before the end of the fiscal quarter concluding on March 31. Although the program is said to be accelerating, the extent of this acceleration remains unclear, as the current annual production rate has not been disclosed.
Nevertheless, public assessments indicate that the production capacity is around seven aircraft per year. The company announced plans to invest between $2 billion and $3 billion over several years to accelerate B-21 production. It was also previously announced that $477 million had been spent on changes to production processes.
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