On-Duty Head of Air Force Global Strike Announces Quick Approach of Second B-21's Flight
The U.S. Air Force is set to produce at least 100 B-21 Raider bombers, with discussions underway to potentially increase this number to 145 aircraft[2]. The production rate, currently targeted at around 10 aircraft per year once full-rate production is reached, is poised to increase due to a recent reconciliation bill[4][5].
Currently, production ramps up using existing infrastructure at Northrop Grumman’s Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, with a reported capacity of about 7-8 aircraft per year[3]. Leadership expects the second B-21 to fly soon, and funding increases would enable a steeper production ramp beyond current rates[2].
The Air Force aims to produce more than 100 B-21 aircraft, a goal driven by the importance of long-range strike capabilities and the need to replace aging bombers[1]. The B-21 will be certified for both nuclear and conventional missions from the outset[6].
The B-21's design and materials have been optimized to make it less maintenance-intensive than the B-2, and maintainers and pilots of the B-2 were embedded with acquisition engineers and industry partners to optimize various aspects of the B-21[8][9]. The production version and the fielding version of the B-21 are tightly wound to ensure no lag in combat capability[10].
Lessons learned from initial and upgraded capabilities on the B-2 have been incorporated into the design of the B-21[7]. The B-21's design philosophy was to perfect what was learned on the B-2 and make it a more robust and reliable platform[11]. The B-21 is considered evolutionary in technology, not a generational leap[12].
The B-21 bomber flew for the first time in November 2023 and is currently flying approximately two times per week[13][14]. The Air Force's long experience with the B-2 partly attributes to the B-21's success[15].
Notably, unlike the original 2015 contract, the immediate plan does not include the development of both crewed and uncrewed versions of the B-21[16]. Gen. Anthony Cotton, head of U.S Strategic Command, has urged increasing the B-21 program to 145 aircraft[2].
| Aspect | Details | |------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | Planned total quantity | At least 100, with consideration of increasing to 145 | | Current production rate| About 7-8 aircraft/year at Plant 42, aiming for 10/year full rate | | Proposed increased rate| Up to 20 aircraft/year with a second facility | | Budget for production increase | $4.5 billion allocated in FY2026 budget |
The Air Force is committed to expanding production steadily to meet evolving strategic demands, replacing older bombers like the B-2 and B-1B starting in the early 2030s[3][1][2]. Early in 2024, William LaPlante, former Pentagon acquisition and sustainment chief, stated that the B-21's low production rate was intentional to protect it from budget cuts[4].
- The U.S. Air Force plans to produce a minimum of 100 B-21 Raider bombers, with discussions underway to potentially increase that number to 145 aircraft, aiming for a production rate of 10 aircraft per year once full-rate production is attained.
- To accommodate higher production rates, the Air Force is considering adding a second facility, with the potential for up to 20 aircraft to be produced annually.
- The current production of B-21 bombers is taking place at Northrop Grumman’s Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, with a reported capacity of about 7-8 aircraft per year, and funding increases are necessary to achieve the proposed increased rate.
- The B-21 production version and fielding version are designed to be tightly wound, ensuring no lag in combat capability, and the design and materials have been optimized to make it less maintenance-intensive than its predecessor, the B-2.
- The B-21 bomber, with its evolutional technology, is set to fly for the first time in November 2023 and will be certified for both nuclear and conventional missions from the outset, succeeding in part due to lessons learned from the B-2's initial and upgraded capabilities.
