WASHINGTON — The Air Power has awarded Northrop Grumman a $108 million contract to purchase objects prematurely that can be wanted to construct the B-21 Raider bomber, however may take a very long time to amass.
The contract to assist the acquisition of lengthy lead objects wanted to construct the primary lot of manufacturing B-21s, introduced in a Wednesday launch, is the service’s newest step towards fielding the next-generation stealth bomber.
Lengthy lead objects are elements wanted to fabricate a system just like the B-21, however that take additional time to acquire from suppliers. If these objects aren’t procured prematurely, a whole program will be held up whereas the producers watch for the crucial components to reach. The navy frequently supplies advance procurement cash on main applications to keep away from that scenario.
The Air Power is beginning to ramp up preparations so as to add the B-21 to its fleet. Northrop Grumman now has no less than six bombers in varied phases of manufacturing at Air Power Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.
The primary flight check B-21 is now present process floor testing, which incorporates checking its structural design and integrity earlier than a flight takes place. Different steps within the B-21′s floor check part will embrace turning its energy on, testing subsystems and making use of coatings and paint.
The rollout of the B-21 is anticipated to happen sooner or later in 2022, though the date has not but been introduced, and its first flight will comply with at a later date.
The Air Power mentioned within the launch the B-21 will change into the “spine” of its bomber fleet and the advance procurement contract reveals its dedication to fielding it.
“The B-21 Raider program is foundational to the Air Power’s operational crucial for an efficient, long-range strike household of programs to ensure our potential to strike any goal, anytime, wherever, even in essentially the most contested surroundings,” Air Power Chief of Employees Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown mentioned.
Brown additionally praised the Raider for its “pursuit of game-changing expertise.”
“The standard of the plane construct, coupled with its open programs structure design and built-in margin for future development, will present our warfighters the aggressive benefit we’ll want to discourage present and future conflicts, and combat and win if referred to as upon to take action,” Brown mentioned.
Below an engineering and manufacturing improvement contract, Northrop Grumman is now constructing check plane on the identical manufacturing line and with the identical tooling, processes and technicians that can be used for manufacturing plane, the Air Power mentioned.
“The B-21 check plane are essentially the most production-representative plane, each structurally and in its mission programs, at this level in a program, that I’ve noticed in my profession,” Randall Walden, director of the Air Power’s speedy capabilities workplace, mentioned within the launch. “The suitable choices are being made on this program to pave the best way for a high-fidelity flight check marketing campaign and an efficient transition to manufacturing.”
The Air Power’s proposed finances for fiscal 2023 would add $1.7 billion in procurement funds for the B-21, to the $108 million accepted in 2022. The Air Power desires to spend greater than $5.2 billion on the B-21 subsequent yr, together with persevering with its EMD part.
The Air Power acquired funding in 2022 for 5 new building tasks for the bomber’s mission at Ellsworth Air Power Base in South Dakota, which would be the B-21′s first primary working base. Development has begun on a hangar for sustaining the bomber’s low-observable stealth coating, which can be Ellsworth’s first such hangar.
The Air Power in 2019 chosen Whiteman Air Power Base in Missouri and Dyess Air Power Base in Texas because the second and third primary bases for the B-21. An environmental affect assertion, wanted to make the ultimate choices on the bases, is scheduled to start this yr.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter at Protection News. He beforehand reported for Navy.com, overlaying the Pentagon, particular operations and air warfare. Earlier than that, he lined U.S. Air Power management, personnel and operations for Air Power Instances.
