The U.S. Air Force and defense contractor Northrop Grumman have reached an agreement to expand production capacity for the newest sixth-generation B-21 Raider stealth bomber (the deal is to be signed by May) to enable faster delivery of these aircraft to service.
This involves allocating $4.5 billion approved under the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which U.S. President Donald Trump signed in July 2025.
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According to a U.S. Air Force press release, the agreement with the B-21 Raider bomber manufacturer will increase annual production capacity by one quarter, reduce delivery timelines, while maintaining cost and productivity discipline.
It is noted that as of today, the B-21 Raider project schedule envisions operational introduction of the first bombers at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota in one year, in 2027. However, as Breaking Defense notes, this date is likely new, as previously aircraft delivery to operational bases was to start in the mid-2020s.
It also remains unknown how the B-21 bomber's cost will change during serial production. As of today, it is essentially the world's most expensive combat aircraft, with prices hovering around $700 million per unit.
A serious question also remains regarding how many of these stealth bombers the U.S. Air Force will order. While there is officially a plan for 100 aircraft, many in the U.S. favor expanding procurement plans.
To defeat China's airbases and long-range weapons positions in the event of war, the U.S. must procure approximately 200 B-21 bombers plus 300 sixth-generation F-47 fighters. Experts from the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies previously reached this conclusion.
Recall that the B-21 bomber was developed under complete secrecy and was first publicly demonstrated only in December 2022. In November 2023, this aircraft made its first flight, while in September last year, the second B-21 bomber took to the skies for the first time.
Among other things, it is worth noting that by default the B-21 Raider can be operated by just one pilot. This speaks quite vividly to the fact that this aircraft is not an ordinary classical bomber. Among other things, the U.S. from time to time returns to the idea of arming it with air-to-air missiles.
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