Northrop Grumman Wins Massive Bomber Contract

Pia Bergqvist

Thursday, October 29, 2015 at 09:09 PM ET

Verified

Photo: Northrop Grumman

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman a contract potentially worth $77 billion (2010 dollars) for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) and early production of a new Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B).
The LRS-B is designed to replace the Air Force's aging bomber fleet, with the capability to launch from the United States and strike targets globally.
The contract includes an EMD phase estimated at $21.6 billion and a production phase for up to 100 airplanes, valued at up to $550 million per aircraft.
Northrop Grumman plans to execute the project in Palmdale, California, at the former B-2 bomber plant, which is expected to create around 1,400 jobs and boost the southern California aerospace industry.

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The U.S. Air Force has awarded an enormous contract to Northrop Grumman to replace its aging fleet of bombers. The contract covers the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) and early production for a new Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B), and could be worth as much as $77 billion in 2010 dollars.

The Air Force’s current fleet of bombers range in age from 17-plus years for the B-2 to 50-plus years for the B-52, an Air Force press release said. The design goal for the new LRS-B will be the capability of launching from the United States and striking “any target, any time around the globe.”