In the high-stakes game of global air superiority, the United States is committing to a future of advanced military aviation technology with programs like the B-21 Raider, the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, and the Navy’s F/A-XX series.
But soaring costs and budgetary pressures are casting long shadows over these critical defense initiatives.
The B-21 Raider, a stealth intercontinental strategic bomber, is poised to become the Air Force’s crown jewel by 2027.
Set to replace the venerable B-52 Stratofortress and the B-1B Lancer, the Raider is designed to carry both nuclear and conventional weapons.
While its specs and capabilities promise unparalleled performance, financial concerns loom large.
Northrop Grumman, the manufacturer, anticipates a loss exceeding $1 billion during the initial low-rate production phase due to labor challenges and inflation, among other issues.
Kathy Warden, Northrop Grumman’s CEO, conveyed the company’s commitment despite zero profitability, stressing, “We are planning at a zero profitability [on the B-21 for now], but we have to perform, and we are working hard to ensure that plan is what we achieve.”
With an estimated cost of around $750 million per airframe, the Air Force’s intention to procure at least 100 B-21s is a significant financial undertaking.
Parallel to the B-21 effort, the Air Force is developing the sixth-gen NGAD fighter, expected to be priced at $300 million each.
This fighter, set to replace the F-22 Raptor, will operate alongside a “family of systems,” which includes collective combat vehicles (CCVs) that function as loyal wingmen drones.
The Navy’s F/A-XX program intended to succeed the F/A-18 Super Hornets.
As geopolitical priorities shift, the fate of such projects can be uncertain. The history of the B-2 Spirit, F-22 Raptor, and Seawolf-Class submarines attest to the vulnerability of cutting-edge military technology to budget cuts.
Kathy Warden, chairwoman, president and CEO of Northrop Grumman [NOC], saying, “Digital tools are also being added to the B-21 program and have been ‘tied to advanced manufacturing technologies to realize over 15 percent labor efficiencies in one area of the build.'”
Complicating the aerial arms race further, the number of B-21s that will ultimately take to the skies remains an open question. The Air Force has stated a need for at least 100 bombers to effectively counter adversaries.
As for NGAD, the competition has narrowed. Northrop Grumman opted out of bidding as a prime contractor, leaving Lockheed Martin and Boeing to vie for the role.
Despite this, Northrop Grumman remains engaged, considering bids as a supplier and expressing interest in the unmanned aspects of the program, known as the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
Relevant articles:
– B-21 Raider, NGAD, and F/A-XX All Have 1 Problem That Can’t Be Fixed, The National Interest
– The B-21 Raider Question: How Many Bombers?, nationalinterest.org
– Northrop Grumman Powers On B, Defense Daily