The B-21 Raider stealth bomber, the U.S. Air Force’s latest addition to its arsenal, has been embroiled in a series of debates as it forgoes traditional acquisition practices.
Despite the concerns and financial complications faced by Northrop Grumman, the Department of Defense (DoD) has permitted the B-21 program to bypass a statutory limitation that would ordinarily restrict the low-rate initial production (LRIP) to 10 percent of total production for a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP).
“The B-21 program is handled as a highly sensitive classified initiative under 10 USC 2430, and is not categorized as a typical Major Defense Acquisition Program,” the Department of Defense stated in an email reply on June 3.
On July 1, 1994, the late Senator David Pryor (D-Arkansas) addressed the Senate, stating that the concept of “Fly Before You Buy” is not a new idea.
He mentioned, “It was initially advocated in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, following the tragic loss of numerous American soldiers due to malfunctioning weapons.” Pryor emphasized that conducting operational testing after acquiring a weapon system is ineffective. He stated, “We cannot afford to purchase first and address issues later.
The Department of Defense has repeatedly procured weapons before confirming their operational functionality.”
In an effort to address the insufficient operational testing, Congress established the Department of Defense Directorate of Operational Testing and Evaluation (DOT&E) in 1983. DOT&E provides reports to both the defense secretary and Congress.
Despite the oversight by DOT&E, Pryor highlighted on July 1, 1994 that concurrent development and acquisition persisted in programs such as the Air Force B-1 bomber, the Boeing C-17 transport, and the U.S. Navy T-45 trainer by Boeing and BAE Systems.
The first test flights for the B-21 have only recently begun, stirring the debate on whether it is premature to talk about production of the aircraft.
Dan Grazier, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center, criticized this approach, stating, “Buying aircraft in any significant quantity before testing is complete creates a huge amount of risk because the early aircraft will almost certainly include a large number of design flaws that will only be revealed through testing.”
He cautioned against repeating mistakes seen in past programs like the F-35, where early production led to significant issues.
Despite these concerns, the Pentagon acquisition chief William LaPlante confirmed that the B-21 program has “negotiated fixed price production options for the first 40 aircraft”.
This decision has financial implications for Northrop Grumman, which reported a substantial after-tax charge due to factors such as inflation, supply chain, and labor constraints, suggesting that the company will incur losses on the initial production lots through 2030.
In a report dated May 22nd, defense analyst Roman Schweizer from TD Cowen Washington Research Group stated that the future defense plan until fiscal 2027 does not currently back the acquisition of 40 aircraft.
However, there is a possibility of incorporating additional aircraft in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Schweizer suggested that having fewer aircraft under Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) could potentially be more advantageous for Northrop.
Relevant articles:
– 21 Exempt from LRIP Limitation, DoD Says, Defense Daily
– 21s to Be Fixed, Defense Daily
– 21 to Get the LRIP Contract, Air & Space Forces Magazine
– Cost overruns on B-21 development generate $1.5bn charge for Northrop, FlightGlobal