The U.S. Air Force is evaluating whether to expand its fleet of B-21 Raider stealth bombers beyond the currently planned minimum of 100 aircraft, according to Northrop Grumman leadership. The review also considers accelerating the rate of production as the program moves toward initial operational delivery.
Northrop Grumman Chief Executive Officer Kathy Warden stated during a July 21 earnings call that an existing agreement permits the service to examine both faster output and a larger program of record. She noted that the company is participating in this analysis and expects the Air Force to reach a decision by the end of 2026.
General Dale White, director of Critical Major Weapon Systems, indicated during late July remarks at an industry conference in Dayton, Ohio, that the acquisition effort has accelerated by approximately 25 percent. This progress follows a one-time $4.5 billion funding increase included in 2025 reconciliation legislation. White projected that the first operational B-21 would be stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota in 2027.
The Pentagon has requested $6.1 billion for the program in fiscal 2027 to support the transition from development and flight testing to broader production. The service recently added a second aircraft to its test fleet at Edwards Air Force Base in California to increase the pace of evaluations and weapons integration.
Northrop Grumman’s financial disclosures reflect this shift toward higher activity. Aeronautics Systems sales rose 13 percent in the second quarter of 2026, driven by increased B-21 volumes. The company raised its full-year sales forecast for this segment to approximately $14 billion.
Chief Financial Officer John Greene cited good execution on the bomber program throughout the year. He stated that capital expenditures are expected to reach $1.85 billion in 2026, with spending equivalent to about 4.5 percent of sales in both 2027 and 2028 to support infrastructure for B-21 production.
