📋 Tender Overview
Published Oct. 8, 2026 Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs PALMDALE, Calif. (AFNS) -- Left to right, William Bailey, performing the duties of the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics; Chris Adams, Chris Adams, Northrop Grumman sector vice president and general manager of B-21 program; Gen. Dale White, director, Critical Major Weapon Systems for the Department of War; Maj. Gen. Peter Bonetti, director, Air Force Global Strike Command Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements; and Col. Nicholas Jordan, director, U.S. Air Force B-21 System Program, stand for a photo in front of a construction site, Palmdale, California, Sept. 29, 2026. The Department of the Air Force and Northrop Grumman broke ground on the new final assembly line at Air Force Plant 42, marking a significant step toward expanding production capacity for the B-21 Raider and delivering combat capability to the Joint Force faster. (Courtesy photo by Northrop Grumman) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The Department of the Air Force alongside Northrop Grumman broke ground on the new final assembly line at Air Force Plant 42, Sep. 29, marking a significant step toward expanding production capacity for the B-21 Raider and delivering combat capability to the Joint Force faster. The groundbreaking kicks off over one million new square feet of facilities that will support the B-21 Raider production-capacity expansion announced earlier this year. The effort is part of the agreement between the DAF and Northrop Grumman that increases annual B-21 production capacity by 25% while maintaining focus on cost, schedule and performance. This groundbreaking represents more than construction; it represents a sustained commitment to delivering the capability our nation needs at the speed the security environment demands, said Gen. Dale White, director, Critical Major Weapon Systems and Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager to the Deputy Secretary of War. The B-21 Raider is foundational to the Air Forces future long-range strike capability, and this investment strengthens the industrial capacity required to field that capability faster. The DAF is applying 4.5 billion in funding previously authorized and appropriated under fiscal year 2025 reconciliation legislation to accelerate production of the approved B-21 acquisition profile of 100 aircraft, building on the programs demonstrated performance to compress delivery timelines for the next-generation stealth bomber fleet. A second B-21 Raider, the nations sixth-generation stealth bomber, joins flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 11, 2025. The program is a cornerstone of the Department of the Air Forces nuclear modernization strategy, designed to deliver both conventional and nuclear payloads. (Courtesy photo) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The B-21 team has established the foundation to accelerate production responsibly, said Col. Nicholas Jordan, B-21 Systems program director, Rapid Capabilities Office. This investment in Palmdale will provide the infrastructure, workforce and manufacturing capacity needed to deliver the Raider to the Air Force at an increased rate. The B-21 Raider is a long-range, penetrating strike aircraft designed to operate in highly contested environments. It integrates advanced stealth, resilient networking and modern, data-driven command-and-control architecture to support the Joint Forces ability to deter and, if necessary, defeat emerging threats. Currently in flight test, the B-21 program remains on track to have aircraft on the ramp at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, in 2027. The expansion at Plant 42 will support the transition from demonstrated program performance to increased production capacity and more rapid fielding of operational capability. U.S. Air Force Logo
