In the last quarter of 2023, Northrop Grumman reported a pre-tax charge of nearly $1.6 billion on the B-21 Raider program as it entered its low-rate initial production phase. The charge is due to higher-than-expected production costs and macroeconomic disruptions. Plans for at least 100 Northrop-made B-21 bombers to begin fielding in the mid-2020s. Despite a the $1.3 billion loss in the aeronautics sector, the company reported a net loss of $535 million in 2023.
The Air Force announced the expected first flight of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber is in 2023. The LGM-35A Sentinel missile program experienced a cost increase of at least 37%, which led to a critical Nunn-McCurdy breach and a Pentagon review of the program. Lt. Gen. Richard Moore was committed to funding the Sentinel. The review is expected to last several months and has attributed the cost growth on Sentinel to its command and launch segment.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times and the Pentagon.
