Pentagon Considering Second B-21 Production Line

Military Feels Urgency to Build 145 6th-Generation Stealth Raiders Faster

The U.S. military struck a $4.5 billion deal last month to increase the rate of production on its new B-21 bomber.

Now officials are considering whether they will open up an entire second production line to go even faster in constructing the sixth-generation stealth Raider. This development comes just weeks after the Pentagon finalized a major agreement with Northrop Grumman worth more than $4.5 billion, the purpose of which already pointed to plans to increase the rate at which the aircraft are produced. Adm. Richard Correll, head of U.S. Strategic Command, told lawmakers March 17 that his command still believes the Air Force needs to increase its planned B-21 fleet to 145 airplanes—a figure his predecessor, Air Force Gen. Anthony J. Cotton, endorsed last March.

“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,” Correll said. Correll has 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.

FMI: www.af.mil