The Department of the Air Force has signed an agreement with Northrop Grumman to expand production of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber aircraft by 25 percent annually.
The agreement will apply $4.5 billion in funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill, DAF said Monday.
“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,” Kathy Warden, chair, president and CEO of Northrop Grumman and a 10-time Wash100 winner, stated in a company press release. “Northrop Grumman has invested more than $5 billion in digital engineering and manufacturing infrastructure, and we are ready to produce B-21 faster.”
DAF expects the first B-21 to arrive at the Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota by 2027.
Explore the advanced capabilities keeping airmen ahead of adversaries at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 31. Department of War and Air Force leaders will be present at the summit to discuss how industry can support American warfighters in the air and space domains. Register now to secure your seats.
Table of Contents
What Is the B-21 Raider?
The B-21 Raider is a sixth-generation bomber designed to bypass air defenses and operate in contested environments.
Designed to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons, the aircraft can strike targets anywhere in the world. Its open architecture allows for continuous upgrades, enabling the platform to adapt to evolving threats while sustaining readiness and strategic deterrence.
Troy Meink, secretary of the Air Force and a 2026 Wash100 Award recipient, described the B-21 as foundational the service’s long-range strike capability and strengthens deterrence.
“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,” he added.
How Many B-21s Will the Air Force Acquire?
The Air Force is targeting a fleet of 100 B-21 Raiders, The War Zone reported. However, in recent years, officials have expressed support for a larger fleet with up to 145 aircraft.
According to Aviation Week, Northrop has delivered two test aircraft to the Air Force. A third test aircraft is undergoing ground test, with two more currently in assembly.
Related Articles
The Department of Justice has appointed Shantrell “Nikki” Collier, deputy chief information officer, as deputy assistant attorney general for information resources management and CIO, Nextgov/FCW reported Wednesday. What Led to the DOJ CIO Transition? The leadership transition followed the departure of Melinda Rogers, who left her role as DOJ CIO at the end of May 2025. Rogers announced in a LinkedIn post that her departure marked an “inflection point” in her life, as her twin sons prepared to leave for college. She said she planned to pursue a new milestone while maintaining the professional relationships she built during her time
Zeke Maldonado has been appointed acting chief information officer at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Former Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary and Chief Acquisition Officer Chris Cummiskey congratulated Maldonado on the appointment in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday. In his new role, Maldonado is responsible for delivering enterprise information management, technology and cybersecurity services that support FEMA’s workforce and disaster response operations, Cummiskey said. The role also includes shaping the agency’s technology strategy, overseeing major IT acquisitions, and ensuring alignment with federal architecture and security requirements. The new acting CIO will report to Shila Cooch, FEMA’s associate administrator for
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched the Accelerated Transformation of Legacy Applications and Systems, or ATLAS, initiative as a challenge-based acquisition effort designed to modernize more than 200 applications and approximately 3,000 databases across its mission-support portfolio. As federal agencies accelerate enterprise IT modernization and AI-driven transformation initiatives, leaders across government and industry are advancing the broader digital reform agenda. Save your seat at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22 and join experts as they discuss enterprise IT reform, AI and other emerging technologies shaping mission delivery. In a Feb. 17 notice posted on SAM.gov,