Air Force and Northrop Grumman Break Ground on B-21 Raider Production Expansion in Palmdale, California

The Department of the Air Force and Northrop Grumman broke ground on September 29, 2026 on a new B-21 Raider final assembly line at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.

Over one million square feet

The groundbreaking kicks off more than one million square feet of new facilities that will support the B-21 production capacity expansion. Under the agreement between the Air Force and Northrop Grumman, annual B-21 production capacity will increase by 25%. The Air Force is applying $4.5 billion in previously authorized funding to accelerate production of the planned fleet.

Gen. Dale White, Director, Critical Major Weapon Systems said:

“This groundbreaking represents more than construction; it represents a sustained commitment to delivering the capability our nation needs at the speed the security environment demands.”

Related B-21 investments

The Palmdale expansion follows other B-21 program facility investments, including Northrop Grumman’s East Gate 3 facility in Layton, Utah.