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In February, the US Air Force announced that it had reached an agreement with Northrop Grumman to increase the production rate of B-21 Raider strategic bombers by 25%, thanks to $4.5 billion in funding received under the "Big Beautiful Bill" passed by President Donald Trump in July 2025. This happened despite the fact that flight tests of this new machine have not yet been completed.
Officially, the exact number of B-21 Raider ordered has never been specified. However, it is often suggested that the USAF Global Strike Command (AFGSC) expects at least 100 such aircraft.
The US Air Force is reluctant to reveal details about this bomber. However, it is known that one of its advantages will be a longer flight range due to better "fuel efficiency" compared to its predecessor, the B-2 Spirit. And since the B-21 is smaller and therefore lighter, it is expected to carry a smaller payload.
In this regard, an increase in the fleet of strategic bombers will be required. As indicated in the Aviation Week publication, AFGSC intends to achieve this by adopting another new aircraft, having recently announced a corresponding tender. We are talking about a reusable vehicle with a liquid rocket engine of the VTOL type – with vertical takeoff and landing, or STOL – with short takeoff and vertical landing, in order to be able to operate from primitive or impacted airfields.:
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After vertical takeoff, this aircraft will transfer thrust to the horizontal plane and reach high speed (supersonic or even hypersonic). After striking, he will make a vertical landing. Such an aircraft application scenario requires the development of a number of key technologies. The AFGSC document mentions, among other things, autonomous piloting, thrust vector control, aerodynamic guides, cryogenic fuel, and more.
At this stage, it is planned to develop a prototype, not a demonstration sample. The deadline for submitting applications for participation in the tender was set for August 4. The contract can be concluded within 30-45 days, according to Aviation Week.
The publication points out that New Frontier Aerospace has a very good chance of winning, as last year it signed a cooperation agreement with the Air Force Institute of Technology to develop a "hypersonic vertical takeoff and landing aircraft powered by a rocket engine." In addition, the company is coming up with the idea to bring a similar machine, called Rocketline, to the civil transportation market.
