Press Releases

In a letter to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (AL-03) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (WA-09), Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) led 29 lawmakers in calling for the expansion of the B-21 Raider program in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. Global developments, including the pacing threat of the Chinese Communist Party as well as conflicts in eastern Europe and the Middle East, demand significantly more B-21s than the 100 aircraft originally planned.

Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri’s Fourth District, which is currently the only operating base of the B-2 stealth bomber fleet, will be among those that house the B-21.

Read the full letter here or below:

“Dear Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith:

“As the Committee reviews the Department of Defense FY 2027 budget request and drafts its recommendations for the FY 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), we wanted to voice our strong support of America’s next long-range, stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider. The B-21 sets the benchmark for program performance and will outpace the highest end threats for decades to come. We recommend that the Committee fully funds the program in FY 2027 and directs the Department to reassess the current program of record. Many experts believe significantly more B-21s are needed than the 100 aircraft planned at the program’s award in 2015. Reevaluating the program of record requirement in light of global developments is appropriate at this time.

“The B-21 is a masterpiece of American innovation and is China’s pacing threat, key to both American deterrence and victory in future conflicts. This sixth-generation aircraft will be the backbone of the U.S. Air Force as a daily flyer and offering a combination of range, payload, and survivability. Long-range precision strike capabilities will afford Combatant Commanders the ability to hold any target, anywhere in the world at risk.

“The B-21 government and industry team continue to make tremendous progress. The first two test aircraft have flown at Edwards Air Force and performed like the simulator, reflecting the precision of the B-21 digital ecosystem. Two ground test assets have completed structures testing and progressing with fatigue testing. Low-rate initial production is underway, building off the production-representative test assets. The all-American, nationwide B-21 Industry Team has invested over $7 billion to support the program and span across 40 states and more than 400 suppliers.

“We urge the Committee to fully fund the program in FY 2027. If additional resources become available, we encourage the Committees to consider funding additional B-21 modernization activities to ensure the program outpaces evolving threats in the future.

“We further recommend that the FY 2027 NDAA directs the Department to reassess and validate an increase to the current B-21 Raider Program of Record to ensure that it supports the National Defense Strategy, meets the future mission requirements identified by U.S. Strategic Command, and aligns with the investment to accelerate and expand B-21 production capacity, as provided in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted on July 4, 2025.

“Thank you for your consideration of this request.”

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