Northrop Grumman advances B‑21 Raider production amidst challenges
At the Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, the intense production of B-21 Raider bombers is underway. As informed by Kathy Warden, CEO of Northrop Grumman, the company is in the process of executing the first two production batches. According to Bulgarian Military, this means that 40 of these aircraft are already being produced.
The B-21 Raider is a strategic bomber set to become a key component of the U.S. Air Force. Its design is based on stealth technology and open systems architecture, which allows for quick upgrades. This enables the B-21 to adapt to evolving threats over many decades.
Innovative approach to production
The Bulgarian Military service notes that Northrop Grumman adopted an innovative approach to B-21 production by integrating tests and production on a single line. This minimizes differences between prototypes and operational units, accelerating the transition to full operational readiness. The first B-21, named Cerberus, made its maiden flight in November 2023.
Nonetheless, the production of the B-21 involves financial challenges. Northrop Grumman reported a loss of $477 (£358) million in the first quarter of 2025 due to rising production costs. However, the company expects that full-scale production will bring anticipated profits.
The future of American aviation
The B-21 Raider bomber is the latest and most technologically advanced strategic aircraft of the United States Air Force, intended to set a new standard for conducting operations in the airspace of the 21st century. The aircraft is designed to penetrate the most advanced air defence systems, with an emphasis on full network-centricity, high autonomy, and low detectability – features expected to give the U.S. an edge in potential conflicts with peer adversaries like China or Russia.
The B-21 Raider is constructed using the latest composite materials and radar-absorbing coatings, and its onboard systems – including sensors, radars, and electronic warfare systems – create an integrated environment that allows the aircraft to conduct missions in complete secrecy. Moreover, the B-21 is the first "digital" bomber – designed entirely in a virtual environment, facilitating its aforementioned modernization, servicing, and integration with future weapon and command systems.
Currently, there is little detailed information about the capabilities and performance of the B-21. However, it is known that the Raider will be a long-range aircraft capable of executing both conventional and nuclear strikes from U.S. territory. Unlike its predecessors, the B-21 is also designed for network operations – with the capability to collaborate with unmanned wingmen, satellites, and other combat platforms in real time. The U.S. Air Force has revealed that the Raider will have the ability to operate from both land bases and – potentially – forward-deployed airfields, enhancing its flexibility in responding to crises.
The B-21's armament is expected to include a wide array of precision conventional bombs as well as nuclear warheads – such as in the B61-12 and B83 – and AGM-158 JASSM and JASSM-ER cruise missiles. In the future, the aircraft is also expected to gain the capability of carrying new-generation hypersonic missiles, further enhancing its deterrence potential.
The aircraft has not yet been officially commissioned into service. The Americans expect the first units to be delivered to combat units before the end of the decade. Ultimately, the Pentagon aims to have at least 100 such bombers in its fleet. The B-21 Raider is set to become the cornerstone of the U.S. air strategy, combining the range of the B-52, the flexibility of the B-1, and the stealth of the B-2. Plans are in place to deploy the first units to bases in South Dakota, Missouri, and Texas.
