Breaking Defense reports, “Northrop Grumman will invest $2.5 billion of its own cash to accelerate production of the B-21 stealth bomber, with $200 million in investments slated to be executed this year, its chief executive said. The Air Force and Northrop in February finalized an agreement to increase the B-21 production rate by 25 percent, but CEO Kathy Warden’s comments on a financial earnings call today mark the first time the company has revealed what it plans to spend in order hit the ambitious goal.”
Full Story (Breaking Defense)
Tag: B-21
B-21 Raider Reaches Key Milestone With Tanker Refueling Trials
Defense One reports, “Key refueling-related tests for the B-21 Raider are now underway, an Air Force spokesperson confirmed to Defense One, the latest milestone towards delivering the next-generation bomber by 2027. On Tuesday, several open-source intelligence accounts and plane spotters posted images of a B-21 approaching a KC-135 tanker over California”
Full Story (Defense One)
Northrop Grumman Targeting Faster B-21 Ramp Up
Aviation Week reports, “Northrop Grumman is in talks with the Pentagon about potentially accelerating the production ramp-up of the B-21 bomber and speeding the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile effort that is spooling up again.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Northrop Anticipates Next B-21 Production Award by End of the Year
Defense One reports, “Northrop Grumman anticipates getting a second contract to continue producing the Pentagon’s new B-21 Raider by the end of the year, executives announced today. ‘With B-21, we are on track for meeting the milestones associated with an award’ for Low-Rate Initial Production Contract 2, or LRIP 2 ‘and so we are expecting that to happen in the fourth quarter,’ CEO Kathy Warden told investors during the company’s third-quarter earnings call Thursday.”
Full Story (Defense One)
U.S. Air Force Shares Video of B-21 Raider Taking Off and Landing
Flying Magazine reports, “The U.S. Air Force released footage of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber undergoing flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Wednesday’s video marks the service’s first reveal of the aircraft’s flight operations. ‘A B-21 Raider conducts flight testing, which includes ground testing, taxiing, and flying operations in California,’ the Air Force said in a statement accompanying the video.”
Ful Story (Flying Magazine)
Pratt & Whitney’s Engine Powers New B-21
Connecticut Post reports that the B-21 “is the Air Force’s first new bomber since the 1989 debut of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, with both using a ‘flying wing’ design to reduce the odds of showing up on radar, which uses four engines from GE Aviation.” The Air Force “has yet to specify how many engines will power the B-21.” Military trade publications “have cited analyst speculation that the B-21 engine may be a variant of the F135 engine Pratt & Whitney makes for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet.” Pratt & Whitney recently “completed its 1,000th engine under the F135 program.” Raytheon CEO Greg Hayes said, “The F135 … is the safest, most capable and best-value, military jet engine in operation. We’re working on the F135 engine core upgrade. … This will allow the F135 to provide even more thrust, range and electrification to the aircraft.”
Full Story (Connecticut Post)