In an effort to accelerate production of its new stealth bombers, the U.S. Air Force is evaluating the possibility of opening a second production line to take part in the construction of up to 145 B-21 Raider aircraft that it seeks to incorporate in the future, reflecting the intention to build up its fleet as urgently as possible. This development comes just weeks after the Pentagon finalized a major agreement with Northrop Grumman worth more than 4.5 billion dollars, the purpose of which already pointed to plans to increase the rate at which the aircraft are produced.
This issue was raised by Admiral Richard Correll, who currently serves as head of U.S. Strategic Command, before a group of lawmakers: “Of course, investments have been made to increase the production rate and, potentially, open a second production line. That decision has not yet been made, but it is clear that the B-21 represents a truly significant capability from both a conventional and nuclear perspective.”
Admiral Correll himself has also been one of the main advocates of the goal of fielding 145 B-21 Raider stealth bombers in order to consolidate U.S. Air Force capabilities, considering that the originally planned minimum number of around 100 aircraft of this type would be insufficient for current needs. In a position that has also been supported by senior officials from the service, it is suggested that the new figure is necessary to replace the aging B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit, which are still taking part in combat operations over the Middle East as part of Operation Epic Fury. According to U.S. analysts, the fact that a second production line is being considered could be a response to this requirement.
If so, reports from specialized media have already indicated that this increase in the number of B-21s to be manufactured already has support in the U.S. Congress, both among Republicans and Democrats. As illustrative examples, it is worth citing the positions of Nebraska lawmaker Don Bacon (R) and his California counterpart George Whitesides (D). This issue is not minor, considering that opening a second production line would require new and significant expenditures from U.S. coffers.
For now, it is worth recalling that the U.S. Air Force is not expected to receive its first B-21 Raider until 2027, as stated by manufacturer Northrop Grumman in an official statement published on February 23. According to official reports, this first aircraft is already in what would be its final stage of production, having for some time been subjected to various types of testing and evaluation at the company’s facilities in Palmdale, California, where it is said to have demonstrated better performance than initially projected in digital simulations.
Images used for illustrative purposes
You may also like: The U.S. Air Force used its new GBU-72 penetrating bomb for the first time against Iranian missile sites in the Strait of Hormuz
