Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force are accelerating production of the B-21 Raider, signaling a push to move the next-generation stealth bomber from testing into operational service sooner than planned.
The company announced that it is expanding production capacity for the B-21 Raider, with final assembly continuing at its Palmdale, California, facility and manufacturing work spread across multiple US sites.
The first operational aircraft remains scheduled to arrive at Ellsworth Air Force Base in 2027, the service’s initial main operating base for the bomber.
Northrop Grumman said its heavy use of digital engineering has shortened certification timelines and enabled faster validation of aircraft performance during tests.
The bomber is designed to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons and to penetrate advanced air defense systems using sixth-generation stealth technologies.
Its open architecture design is intended to allow upgrades over time, reducing long-term sustainment costs compared with earlier bombers.
Northrop Grumman said it has invested more than $5 billion in digital engineering tools and manufacturing infrastructure to support higher production rates as the program matures.
Developing the B-21 Raider
Behind the production acceleration is a broader effort by the US Air Force to stabilize and scale the B-21 industrial base after years of development and early testing.
The acceleration includes low-rate initial production lots and improvements to digital engineering and manufacturing infrastructure.
In 2025, Northrop Grumman also implemented changes in production processes to support faster manufacturing rates, which included a $477-million production adjustment to optimize workflow and cover material costs.
A think tank report released in early 2026 called for a significant enlargement of the US Air Force fleet, including as many as 200 B‑21 Raiders, arguing that larger bomber and fighter fleets are needed to deter or prevail in high‑end conflicts with near-peer adversaries.
In parallel with fleet expansion debates, advancements are underway to equip the B‑21 with next‑generation nuclear cruise missiles.
The US Air Force has unveiled details of the AGM‑181 Long Range Stand Off nuclear cruise missile — designed to arm both the B‑21 and upgraded B‑52 Stratofortress bombers — with low‑rate production expected to begin around 2027.
