Air Force Expands B-21 Bomber Production with Northrop Grumman

New deal will increase production by 25% after months of negotiations

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The U.S. Air Force and defense contractor Northrop Grumman have reached an agreement to accelerate production of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber by 25%. The deal comes after months of negotiations and was enabled by $4.5 billion in additional funding included in last year's reconciliation legislation.

Why it matters

The B-21 Raider is a critical next-generation bomber aircraft that will play a key role in the U.S. military's modernization efforts. Increasing production will help ensure the Air Force can field enough B-21s to meet strategic needs and deter potential adversaries.

The details

Under the new deal, Northrop Grumman will ramp up B-21 production by 25% at its facilities in Colorado. This will allow the Air Force to receive more of the advanced stealth bombers on a faster timeline. The additional funding was secured through last year's reconciliation bill, which allocated $4.5 billion specifically for expanding B-21 production.

  • The Air Force and Northrop Grumman reached the production deal on February 24, 2026.
  • The $4.5 billion in additional funding for B-21 production was included in last summer's reconciliation legislation.

The players

U.S. Air Force

The military service branch responsible for operating the B-21 Raider bomber.

Northrop Grumman

The defense contractor that manufactures the B-21 Raider stealth bomber.

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What’s next

The Air Force and Northrop Grumman will now work to implement the production increase, with the first additional B-21s expected to be delivered in 2028.

The takeaway

This deal represents a significant investment in the B-21 Raider program, underscoring the Air Force's commitment to modernizing its bomber fleet and maintaining air superiority in the face of evolving threats.