Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman was formed in 1994 when Northrop acquired Grumman, and is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia. The company is the only manufacturer to have fielded operational stealth bombers: the B-2 Spirit, 21 of which were delivered between 1993 and 2000, and the B-21 Raider, selected in October 2015 under the Long Range Strike Bomber contract and flying since November 10, 2023.
A $4.5 billion agreement signed with the US Air Force in February 2026 raises B-21 production capacity at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, by 25%, turning a program of record 100 aircraft into the basis for a larger fleet now under debate in Congress. Northrop Grumman also builds the F-35 center fuselage, one per working day as of 2025, as principal partner to Lockheed Martin.
Frequently asked questions
The B-21 Raider stealth bomber, in flight test since November 2023 and planned at a minimum of 100 aircraft, with first operational deliveries to Ellsworth Air Force Base expected in 2027.
Yes. Northrop built all 21 B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, delivered between 1993 and 2000, which the B-21 will eventually replace.
It is a principal partner to Lockheed Martin, manufacturing the F-35's center fuselage and key sensors.