Northrop Grumman could receive $9bn to develop B-21 Raider nuclear bomber, NGAD sixth-generation fighter and Sentinel ICBM

We continue to bring you information that Bloomberg has written about after reading internal documents from the United States Department of Defense. Northrop Grumman, like Lockheed Martin, could also receive a large sum, but under a different programme.

Here's What We Know

The Pentagon will request $145 billion for new technology development in addition to the $170 billion that will be spent on weapons purchases in fiscal 2024. Northrop Grumman will be the largest recipient of the funds. In the event of a positive outcome, the US manufacturer will receive $9bn to develop three key projects.

Most of it will be allocated for development of intercontinental ballistic missile LGM-35A Sentinel - $3.7 billion. The cost of the entire program will be approximately $100 billion. Northrop Grumman recently conducted engine tests for Sentinel. Now flight tests of the propulsion system are on the way. The Sentinel will replace the Minuteman III and will remain in service until 2075.

The second programme is the development of the next-generation B-21 Raider nuclear bomber. It was unveiled in December 2022 and will make its first flight by the end of this year. In total, the US Air Force wants to have 100 sixth-generation aircraft in service, as it is called. The Service recently published new images of the Raider, which revealed an interesting feature of the strategic bomber. The company could get another $3bn for the development of the aircraft in fiscal year 2024.

Another $2.3bn, if approved, will go towards developing the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme, which is developing a sixth-generation fighter jet. The military is expected to receive 200 aircraft, with the first to appear in the middle of the next decade. They will replace the F-22 Raptor, which, unfortunately for the US, has become the prototype for China's fifth-generation J-20 Mighty Dragon fighter.

Source: Bloomberg