U.S. Air Force Boosts B-21 Bomber Production in $4.5 Billion Deal

(RightwingJournal.com) – President Trump’s Air Force surges B-21 Raider stealth bomber production by 25% with $4.5 billion, positioning America to dominate China in the skies and restore military strength eroded by years of weak globalist policies.

Story Highlights

USAF and Northrop Grumman finalize $4.5B deal on February 23, 2026, to boost B-21 production capacity by 25%, accelerating deliveries against Chinese threats.
First operational B-21 on track for Ellsworth AFB in 2027, replacing aging B-1B and B-2 fleets with at least 100 advanced stealth bombers.
Program stays under budget and ahead of schedule, contrasting Biden-era delays and overruns in past projects like the B-2.
Funding from FY2025 “One Big Beautiful Bill” underscores congressional commitment to rapid deterrence and industrial strength.

Acceleration Agreement Details

The U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman signed a $4.5 billion agreement on February 23, 2026, to increase B-21 Raider annual manufacturing by 25 percent. This uses fiscal year 2025 reconciliation legislation funds. Production timelines compress without raising costs or altering performance. The move counters China’s military buildup, ensuring faster fielding of dual-capable stealth bombers for nuclear and conventional strikes. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink called it foundational to deterrence.

Program Background and Progress

Northrop Grumman develops the B-21 Raider at Palmdale, California, building on B-2 Spirit technology since the 2011 Long Range Strike Bomber program. First flight occurred in 2023, with low-rate initial production starting January 2024. By September 2025, a second test aircraft reached Edwards AFB. Unlike the overrun-plagued B-2, the B-21 leverages over $5 billion in digital engineering investments, staying under budget and on track for 2027 service entry.

Key Stakeholders Driving the Surge

Secretary Meink oversees policy, emphasizing acceleration against China. Gen. Dale R. White manages major weapons for disciplined execution. Northrop CEO Kathy Warden readies scaled production via prior investments. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth pushes DoD-wide speed. Congress authorized funds, giving USAF leverage over Northrop’s industrial base. This collaboration delivers warfighter capability faster than adversaries expect.

Low-rate initial production covers 21 aircraft across five lots, with testing advancing. Full-rate production baseline hits about seven per year, now rising to roughly nine. Fleet targets at least 100 to modernize bombers.

Strategic Impacts and Readiness Gains

Short-term, the surge adds about two aircraft yearly, enabling 2027 Ellsworth deliveries and runway upgrades there. B-1B squadrons shift temporarily. Long-term, B-21 forms the bomber backbone for decades, penetrating contested airspace. Economically, $4.5 billion bolsters Palmdale jobs and defense stability. Politically, it signals U.S. resolve to outpace China, rejecting past fiscal mismanagement.