The U.S. Air Force is currently evaluating options to increase the production rate of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber and potentially expand the total number of aircraft in the program. Northrop Grumman Chief Executive Kathy Warden confirmed the service is conducting this analysis and expects to reach a final decision by the end of 2026.
Warden shared these details during the company’s second-quarter 2026 earnings call on July 21. She was responding to inquiries regarding whether the Air Force had discussed increasing the program of record beyond the current baseline of 100 aircraft.
She noted that existing agreements permit the Air Force to consider accelerating production into a larger program. Warden stated the company is actively working with the service on this assessment, which is underway at this time.
The executive indicated that both the speed of production and the potential scale of the fleet are under review. She added that Northrop Grumman will provide updates as the process moves forward.
Warden also discussed how investments in the B-21 and other initiatives, including Golden Dome, are positioning the company for increased revenue growth. She described these efforts as investments in new product lines and capabilities that are beginning to show results.
Additionally, she highlighted Northrop Grumman’s flying-wing technology, citing the B-2 and B-21 as examples of the firm’s stealth bomber expertise. The company is simultaneously scaling advanced factories and increasing production volumes to meet customer demand across major programs.
