The US Air Force and Northrop Grumman have finalized an agreement to accelerate B-21 Raider production using $4.5 billion in congressionally authorized funding. The move aims to increase annual manufacturing capacity by 25% while compressing delivery timelines.
Breaking Defense reports that Embraer and Northrop Grumman have partnered on the KC-390 Millennium to pitch to the US Air Force and other foreign militaries. The partnership aims to strengthen Embraer's bid in the US market, while Northrop is studying ways to incorporate an autonomous boom refueling system into the aircraft.
Northrop Grumman Corporation has partnered with Firefly Aerospace to develop an American-built first-stage upgrade for the Antares rocket, known as the Antares 330. The new stage will utilize seven of Firefly's Miranda engines and leverage its composites technology.
Northrop Grumman Corporation has invested $50 million into Firefly Aerospace to further advance production of their co-developed medium launch vehicle, Eclipse. With a 16 metric ton to orbit capability, Eclipse is expected to support space station resupply, commercial spacecraft, critical national security missions and scientific payloads for the domestic and international markets.
Northrop Grumman's CEO Kathy Warden stated that her company has no plans to follow L3Harris' lead in allowing the Pentagon to take a financial stake in its solid rocket motors business. However, some suppliers may consider similar investments.
Embraer and Northrop Grumman are working together to evolve the KC-390 Millennium into a tanker variant with boom refueling capability. The collaboration aims to rapidly advance a next-generation air-refueling system for the US Air Force and allied operators.