The U.S. Air Force is accelerating production of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, developed by Northrop Grumman in Melbourne, Florida. The first operational bomber is expected to arrive at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota in 2027, according to officials. Each aircraft will cost about $700 million, with the Air Force aiming to field at least 100 of the stealth bombers over time. The new production agreement includes $4.5 billion in federal funding for Northrop Grumman, which has been testing prototypes at Edwards Air Force Base in California since 2024.
Northrop Grumman and the Air Force announced the production acceleration in press releases on Feb. 23, 2026. The company designed the B-21 at its campus off NASA Boulevard in Melbourne, a major project for the Space Coast. The stealth bomber can carry both conventional and nuclear weapons, and Air Force Secretary Troy Meink called it "foundational to our long-range strike capability."
Production will begin with low-rate manufacturing, followed by a ramp-up to meet the 100-aircraft goal. The first B-21s will undergo ground and flight tests at Edwards Air Force Base before deployment. The Air Force has emphasized the need to "deliver operational capability faster" to address emerging threats.
The agreement comes as the U.S. and Israel launched a military operation targeting Iran on Feb. 28, 2026. While the conflict is unrelated to the B-21 program, the Air Force has highlighted the bomber's role in deterrence. Northrop Grumman's work in Melbourne has already created hundreds of jobs, with more expected as production scales up.
The B-21 is part of a broader effort to modernize the Air Force's nuclear arsenal. The first test flights of the bomber occurred in 2023, and the Air Force has stated it will not field the aircraft until all testing is complete. The program's success could shape Brevard County's economy for decades, with Northrop Grumman planning to expand its facilities in the coming years.