Trump announces 28 new B-2s but points to B-21 production surge
October 18, 2025
Trump’s statement that he has signed off on ordering 28 updated B-2s appears to be a reference to a significant order for new B-21s. Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman is also carrying out midlife overhauls on the US Air Force’s fleet of 19 remaining B-2 Spirit bombers.
Trump says the US has ordered 20 or 28 new “B-2s”
On Thursday, speaking to reporters, Trump stated, “We just ordered about 20 brand-new B-2 bombers.” He then remarked on Russian President Putin’s reaction as a pair of Northrop B-2 Spirit bombers flew over them during the Alaska summit.
This followed on from his speech in the Israeli Knesset, where he spoke of the B-2 Spirit’s role in bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities during Operation Midnight Hammer. Trump remarked on the B-2 as being a “pretty plane” and that he had no idea they could “do what they did.”
Trump on B-2 Bombers:
— Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) October 16, 2025
We just ordered about 20 brand-new B-2 bombers. I know Putin — when I was riding with him in Alaska, we passed a lot of them and he said, ‘That really did the trick.’ I said, ‘Yeah, it did.’ pic.twitter.com/UHtIhagwSv
The Jerusalem Post quoted Trump as adding, “In fact, we just ordered 28 more of them. A little updated version. We ordered a whole pile of them.”
The USAF’s new B-21 Raider
The Northrop B-2 Spirit has been out of production for a quarter of a century, and there are no known plans to restart production. It seems likely the “little updated version” Trump was referring to is the all-new Northrop-Grumman B-21 Raider. Both are flying wing bombers and superficially look similar.
The War Zone editor-in-chief, Tyler Rogoway, threw his weight behind the assessment that the aircraft are B-21s, not B-2s, on X (formerly Twitter). He added that this may still be a planned buy, rather than an actual purchase contract.
The USAF has a plan to acquire at least 100 of these B-21 bombers and possibly as many as 120 or more. They are expected first to replace the B-1 Lancer in the 2030s and eventually replace the older B-2 Spirit once they are available in large enough numbers. They will continue to serve alongside the B-52, with the two bombers performing very different roles.
Northrop Grumman delivered its second B-21 Raider prototype to the Air Force just weeks ago. The type is in low-rate initial production but is expected to have a full-rate production of around 10 per year.
Northrop claims the B-21 is the world’s first “sixth-generation” combat aircraft. While it is considerably smaller than the B-2, it represents decades of further development and comes with significantly improved stealth.
We reached out on this on Monday, USAF could not comment, but anyone who reports on U.S. airpower topics would know that this not B-2s, it's B-21s. The B-2 is not in production nor would it be in the future in any form. Trump meant B-21s. As for that number, possibly a planned… https://t.co/bLn3XSHUIl
— Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) October 14, 2025
The USAF is requesting over $10 billion for the program to procure more B-21s and to ramp up production. At least two more B-21s are expected to be delivered in 2026. Prototype B-21s are believed to be similar to serial production examples and could be pressed into service if an urgent need arises.
In early 2024, Breaking Defense reported the B-21 had entered serial production, and the Low Rate Initial Production contract award was expected to be announced shortly. The USAF is urgently rushing the development and adoption of its B-21 bomber and F-47 fighter jet as it competes with a rising China.
USAF upgrading fleet of B-2 Spirits
It will be years until the B-21 enters service in significant numbers; until then, the B-2 will remain the USAF’s stealthy strategic bomber. Only 21 were originally built, of which two have been lost to mishaps over the years.
The remaining 19 B-2 Spirits are being upgraded with extensive mid-life refits. In 2024, Northrop Grumman received a whopping $7 billion to refit and modernize the 19 bombers.
Aerospace Global News reached out to the Pentagon and Northrop Grumman for clarification on Trump’s statements. The Pentagon Press Operations’ Duty Officer responded, “We have your query and are looking into it.” But did not subsequently reply with more information.
❗🇺🇲 The Department of Defense has awarded Northrop Grumman a $7 billion contract for B-2 Spirit modernization and sustainment. The US Air Force plans to continue operating them until at least 2032, when they will be replaced by Northrop's new B-21 Raider. pic.twitter.com/iQ8A5JcsCm
— Colby Badhwar 🇨🇦🇬🇧 (@ColbyBadhwar) May 2, 2024
Other queries to the Pentagon were met with automatic messages that the offices are vacant due to furloughing in the wake of the US Government shutdown. Northrop Grumman did not respond by the time of publication.
