B-21 Raider Enters Production Phase Following Pentagon Approval

The Pentagon has formally approved the production of the B-21 Raider, the Air Force's newest stealth bomber. Following the successful first flight of the bomber, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment William LaPlante confirmed that the B-21 Raider program is moving forward with production. The decision was based on the results of ground and flight tests, as well as the maturity of plans for manufacturing.

The B-21 Raider, designed to replace both the B-2 Spirit and B-1 Lancer, is a nuclear-capable stealth bomber intended for long-range missions, equipped with features to navigate through enemy air defenses. The Air Force aims to acquire at least 100 of these bombers, with plans to deploy them in the mid-2020s.

Details about the contract award value and delivery dates are not immediately available. The Pentagon tied the low-rate initial production contract award to the bomber's first flight, which occurred in November, followed by subsequent test flights. Northrop Grumman, the manufacturer of the B-21 Raider, acknowledged the low-rate initial production status and emphasized the aircraft's significance as the world's first six-generation aircraft, providing advanced integration of data, sensors, and weapons.

Northrop Grumman will report its 2023 year-end earnings on January 25, where investors may seek updates on the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM, another nuclear modernization program that recently experienced a "critical" cost breach according to disclosed information.