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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [TECHNOLOGY]
6 clusters · 11 sources · 41 days · First seen · Last updated
B-21 Raider production and maintenance expansion
Overview
The United States is expanding infrastructure to support the production and maintenance of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber.
In Utah, Northrop Grumman has inaugurated the East Gate 3 production site in Layton to accelerate manufacturing and development. This facility is expected to employ up to 1,500 personnel by 2032 and focuses on B-21 components and sixth-generation aviation. The site is part of a larger industrial expansion in the Layton and Clearfield areas, which now exceeds two million square feet of combined space. Nearby facilities in Clearfield produce composite structures for the B-21, the Sentinel ICBM, the F-35 Lightning II, and the Airbus A350 XWB.
To increase annual production capacity by 25 percent, the Department of the Air Force and Northrop Grumman have broken ground on a major expansion at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. This project involves adding more than 93,000 square meters of new facilities dedicated to the aircraft’s final assembly line. The expansion is supported by a $7 billion combined investment, comprising $4.5 billion from the U.S. government and $2.5 billion in private capital from Northrop Grumman. To expedite the delivery of the planned 100 aircraft, the Air Force is currently seeking additional funding, with budget requests for fiscal year 2027 reaching over $6 billion.
Maintenance capabilities are being bolstered at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma through the construction of the Bomber Agile Common Hangar (BACH). This facility will initially support B-52 Stratofortress modernization before transitioning to B-21 sustainment. Additionally, the Air Force is evaluating the B-21 for air-to-air combat roles, potentially utilizing it as a stealthy command center for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones or an “aerial weapons depot” to carry ultra-long-range missiles.
Entities
Northrop Grumman · B-21 Raider · United States Air Force · Palmdale · U.S. Air Force
Timeline
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[TECHNOLOGY] 3 sourcesUS Air Force evaluates B-21 bomber for air-to-air combat roles
The US Air Force is considering equipping B-21 stealth bombers with air-to-air capabilities to offset fighter shortages and enhance long-range combat roles alongside drone swarms.
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[TECHNOLOGY] 2 sourcesNorthrop Grumman expands B-21 Raider production facilities
The U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman are expanding production facilities in California to increase B-21 Raider stealth bomber output by 25% and accelerate delivery schedules.
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[TECHNOLOGY] 2 sourcesNorthrop Grumman and U.S. Air Force expand B-21 Raider production
The U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman are investing approximately $7 billion to increase B-21 Raider production by 25 percent, expanding facilities in Palmdale to meet fleet goals by 2027.
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[TECHNOLOGY] 2 sourcesNorthrop Grumman expands B-21 Raider production in California
Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force are expanding production facilities in Palmdale, California, to increase B-21 Raider stealth bomber output by 25% through a $7 billion joint investment.
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[TECHNOLOGY] 3 sourcesU.S. Air Force expands B-21 Raider production and maintenance capacity
The U.S. Air Force has begun construction on a new B-21 Raider assembly line in California and a specialized maintenance hangar at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.
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[TECHNOLOGY] 3 sourcesNorthrop Grumman opens new Utah site for B-21 Raider production
Northrop Grumman opened the East Gate 3 site in Utah to accelerate B-21 Raider production, supporting a major expansion of sixth-generation aviation manufacturing and U.S. Air Force bomber capacity.
Sources
airway.com.br · avioblog.it · businessam.be · defence-industry.eu · finance.technews.tw · fr.businessam.be · giaoducthoidai.vn · israelnoticias.com · neokohn.hu · ordu.az · soha.vn
This summary has been updated 4 times: see revision history