Northrop Grumman and U.S. Air Force expand B-21 Raider production

The U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman are expanding the production capacity of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber. A joint investment, totaling approximately $7 billion, aims to increase annual production by 25 percent. This funding includes $4.5 billion in federal appropriations for the 2025 fiscal year and $2.5 billion from Northrop Grumman’s own resources.

To support this growth, a new final assembly line is being established at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. The expansion involves more than one million square feet of new facility space. The initiative is designed to accelerate the delivery of a planned fleet of 100 aircraft, which is intended to replace older models like the B-1B and B-2.

The B-21 program utilizes modern digital engineering and integrated testing protocols, allowing engineers and flight crews to evaluate the aircraft simultaneously. While specific mission systems remain classified, the bomber is designed for long-range penetration of protected airspace to deliver both conventional and nuclear payloads. The aircraft is expected to be deployed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota by 2027.