Air Force and Northrop Grumman Sign Strategic B‑2 Maintenance Agreement

The U.S. Air Force has entered a new maintenance agreement with Northrop Grumman, aiming to expand B‑2 stealth bomber availability while driving down long‑term sustainment costs.

Under the contract, each B‑2 will receive a comprehensive, end‑to‑end overhaul—known as programmed depot maintenance (PDM)—every nine years. This extends the current seven‑year cycle and will be executed at Northrop Grumman’s Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence in Palmdale, California.

"This new maintenance approach is a win‑win for the Air Force and the nation," Brig. Gen. Eric Fick said. "It will enhance the jet’s readiness for global security missions and is expected to save taxpayers roughly $900 million over the fleet’s lifetime."

The revised nine‑year cycle shortens the average PDM duration to 365 days from over 400 days, while B‑2s will enter PDM roughly once every six months.

"The nine‑year PDM schedule is part of an aggressive effort by Northrop Grumman and the Air Force to boost bomber availability," Pat McMahon, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems vice president and general manager, added. "Our experienced workforce has rigorously reviewed every PDM material and process for improvement, enabling us to reduce cycle time and extend the interval between overhauls."

As the only long‑range, high‑payload U.S. military aircraft capable of penetrating deep into denied‑access airspace, the B‑2 can fly 6,000 nautical miles without refueling and more than 10,000 nautical miles with a single aerial refueling, enabling global reach within hours.

For more information, visit www.northropgrumman.com.