Northrop Grumman announced that the B-21 Raider Combined Test Force cut its 180-day evaluation plan to 73 days and secured US$ 11.8 billion, with half of the missions completed.
The announcement was made by the company in a post on its official X profile last Thursday (7). “The B-21 Raider Combined Test Force, a partnership with the U.S. Air Force, cut a 180-day test plan to 73 days, securing US$ 11.8 billion with half the missions. We are driving next-generation stealth forward, fast and focused,” the company said.
Executing a 180-day test plan in just 73 days means the Combined Test Force completed the contracted scope of work in about 40% of the planned time, an exceptional pace by any standard in major defense aircraft programs. The US$ 11.8 billion secured through this performance represents the contract value associated with the milestone.
The B-21 Raider is the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation penetrating stealth strike bomber, designed to deliver both conventional and nuclear munitions and to serve as the airborne leg of America’s nuclear triad for decades to come.
The Air Force has been developing the aircraft as a central component of its long-range strike architecture, with plans to acquire a minimum of 100 aircraft.
The B-21 Raider Combined Test Force, a partnership with @usairforce, cut a 180-day test plan to 73 days, securing $11.8B with half the missions.
We’re driving next-gen stealth forward, fast and focused. pic.twitter.com/mDejIVgp5x
— Northrop Grumman (@northropgrumman) May 7, 2026
Photo: Northrop Grumman. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
