Latest news with #B-21
Business Wire
15-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Conti Federal Awarded $33.5M Contract for B-21 Environmental Protection Shelters at Ellsworth Air Force Base
BUSINESS WIRE)--Conti Federal Services, LLC, a leading federal construction and engineering firm based in Orlando, Florida, has been awarded a $33.5M firm-fixed-price contract by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Omaha District to construct B-21 Environmental Protection Shelters at Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB), South Dakota. 'This latest award showcases our continued role in advancing the B-21 mission through safe, efficient, and resilient infrastructure,' said Korey Mullins, Program Director at Conti Federal. This contract represents Conti Federal's sixth award in support of the B-21 Raider beddown program at Ellsworth AFB and underscores the company's continued commitment to support this critical mission and rapid expansion in delivering high-priority military infrastructure. The project scope includes the construction of five new pre-engineered metal Environmental Protection Shelters designed to shield the B-21 Raider from harsh weather conditions, including UV exposure and snow accumulation, with space for general aircraft maintenance. The work also includes the installation of airfield and ground support equipment (GSE), paving, and the construction of two maintenance kiosks that will provide critical electrical and communication infrastructure to the shelters. Conti Federal's extensive experience at Ellsworth AFB, with five ongoing B-21 projects, provides an established foundation of experienced personnel and proven processes. The integration of the new Environmental Protection Shelters into Conti Federal's broader B-21 Beddown Program, ensures continuity, efficiency, and mission-ready support for the Air Force's next-generation bomber fleet. In addition to Conti Federal's experienced team and established operations at Ellsworth, the company has built strong relationships with a trusted network of local trade partners and subcontractors. These partnerships help ensure that critical work is performed by skilled, reliable professionals who understand the unique requirements of the base and the broader mission. By leveraging these local resources, Conti Federal, supports the regional economy, while delivering high-quality facilities that meet the demanding needs of the B-21 Beddown Program. 'Every new project we take on at Ellsworth strengthens not only our partnership with USACE Omaha and the Air Force but also our commitment to supporting local businesses in South Dakota, who play a vital role in our success.' said Korey Mullins, Program Director at Conti Federal. 'This latest award showcases our continued role in advancing the B-21 mission through safe, efficient, and resilient infrastructure.' Construction activities are expected to be completed by July 2, 2027. Conti Federal is already delivering several other B-21-related facilities at Ellsworth AFB, including the Phase Maintenance Hangar, Radio Frequency Hangar, Weapons Loader Training Facility, Fuel Systems Maintenance Dock, and Dock 81 reinforcing its reputation as a trusted partner in defense infrastructure delivery. About Conti Federal Services: Conti Federal Services is a leading global construction and engineering company with roots dating back to 1906. The company has delivered some of the most demanding projects for the U.S. federal government, specializing in military and secure construction, critical infrastructure, environmental remediation, and disaster response and recovery. Conti Federal is dedicated to ensuring clients meet mission success while committing to its core values of safety, integrity, and compliance. To learn more, visit
India.com
13-07-2025
- India.com
Forget B-2 Bomber, US to unveil its deadliest, most powerful B-21 raider, has thermal masking system, can carry 13 tonnes..., name is...
The B-21 Raider is a project that is among the most secretive defense programs in the United States. However, open-source intelligence (OSINT) and satellites have provided insight into the relatively quiet development of the program. Recently, multiple B-21 test flights were observed at Edwards Air Force Base in California, reported NavBharatTimes. According to several media reports, experts suggested that these test flights were part of the assessment of the bomber's stealth capabilities, that is, it can operate undetected and is totally invisible on active radar. Although the B-2 Spirit and the B-21 Raider are both stealth bombers, the B-21 has next-generation technology, making the B-21 as ready for future warfare as it can be. Although the B-2 could avoid radar, the B-21's stealth capability far exceeds the B-2. While the B-2 took measures to mitigate its heat signature as part of a stealth capability improvement, the B-21 boasts a complete thermal masking system that enables it to evade infrared detection as well. According to the NavBharatTimes report, the B-21 has smart capabilities, like integration of AI, as well as health monitoring systems that allow it to detect and diagnose its own technical anomalies. To date, there is no direct indication that live missile tests have been successfully conducted as of this writing. Nevertheless, there are plans for the B-21 Raider to conduct live test series weapon bay opening and dummy bomb tests in July of 2025; this includes testing to simulate Unified Combatant command-fight scenarios with dummy bombs to understand the effects of combat-weight and future release. Although the Pentagon and Northrop Grumman are not making any comments, there was a leak that indicated that the B-21 initial operational deployment phase should occur by 2027, with a full operational capability by 2029. And when the B-21 enters active service, aerial warfare will never be the same.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Time of India
B-21 Raider: Why US wants to retire the iconic B-2 that rained bombs on Iran
B-21 Raider: Why US wants to retire the iconic B-2 that rained bombs on Iran Jayanta Kalita Jun 29, 2025, 11:52 IST IST While B-2 Spirit was the world's first stealth bomber, B-21 breaks new ground as the first sixth-gen aircraft, designed for AI-integrated warfare. Here's what the Raider, expected to join US Air Force in the next few years, offers Come 2032, the US Air Force (USAF) may start phasing out one of its prized assets — the B-2 stealth bombers — which recently struck three highly fortified Iranian nuclear sites after flying 37 hours non-stop from the Missouri airbase. Plans are underway to replace the B-2 Spirit with the more advanced sixth-generation B-21 Raider , expected to join the USAF within the next few years.
Roya News
27-06-2025
- Roya News
VIDEO: B-2 stealth bomber stranded in Hawaii after Iran decoy mission
A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber deployed in a deception operation meant to distract observers from a real strike on Iran was forced to make an emergency landing in Hawaii. The incident occurred during a complex mission on June 21, in which several B-2 bombers were seen flying west over the Pacific Ocean, closely trailed by a formation of aerial refueling tankers. While public trackers believed the aircraft were en route to Guam, this western maneuver turned out to be a strategic misdirection, an effort designed to exploit open-source intelligence watchers and obscure the actual strike package heading eastward across the Atlantic. One of the B-2s involved in the feint, operating under the callsign MYTEE 14, diverted to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, which shares space with Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam. The aircraft is still on the ground, as shown in a video posted by David Martin (@Sir_DavidMartin), who captured the bomber parked on an apron with a security escort nearby. These unplanned diversions are not new for the B-2 fleet, which remains in service despite being costly, highly complex, and increasingly maintenance-intensive. In a similar case in 2023, another B-2 was stranded in Hawaii for an extended period following an emergency, which later coincided with a months-long grounding of the entire fleet after a crash at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. When asked about the bomber's diversion, Charles Hoffman, Chief of Media Operations for Air Force Global Strike Command, offered no specific details. 'We will not comment on movement, deployment or posturing of forces,' he stated. 'Air Force Global Strike Command maintains the capability to provide global strike anywhere, at the time of the President of the United States' choosing.' Currently, only 19 B-2s remain in active service, making them one of the US military's most limited and high-value platforms. Though infamously expensive and once criticized as a procurement disaster, the stealth bomber has since become a cornerstone of America's long-range strike capabilities. 'Nobody would argue 30 years later it wasn't an absolutely pivotal investment,' military analyst Tyler Rogoway wrote in a June 23 post. To extend the aircraft's viability, the Air Force has been upgrading the B-2 with modernized systems, cockpit enhancements, and efforts to reduce the operational costs of its sensitive radar-absorbent coatings. These upgrades aim to bridge the gap until the next-generation B-21 Raider becomes fully operational. The B-21, which is intended to eventually replace the B-2 fleet, is widely viewed as a critical program for the future of American airpower. Unlike its predecessor, the B-21 is reportedly on schedule and within budget, encouraging signs for a system expected to operate in larger numbers and with greater survivability in contested environments. As for the diverted B-2 in Honolulu, its current status remains unclear. Depending on the nature of the malfunction, repairs could take days, or much longer, due to the logistical challenges of servicing such a specialized aircraft so far from its home base.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Boeing hires former Northrop executive to lead Air Force One program, sources say
(Reuters) -Boeing has hired a former Northrop Grumman executive, Steve Sullivan, to lead its Air Force One program, according to two people briefed on the matter. Sullivan, who previously worked on key Northrop programs including the B-21 bomber, replaces Gregg Coffey, who is moving to another role at the U.S. planemaker. Boeing did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for a comment. The Air Force One program, which involves converting two 747-8 aircraft into VC-25B jets equipped with advanced communications and defense systems to serve as the next generation of U.S. presidential air transport, has faced chronic delays over the last decade. Delivery of the two new 747-8s is three years behind schedule and now expected in 2027. The news of the appointment comes after the U.S. military in May accepted a 747 jetliner as a gift from Qatar. The Air Force was tasked with evaluating options to quickly upgrade it for presidential use.
