A new contract awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is set to support alert operations of B-21 Raider bombers.
Conti Federal Services LLC has been awarded a $39.9M firm-fixed-price contract to construct the B-21 Raider Alert Facility at Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB), South Dakota.
The facility will provide secure lodging and readiness space for B-21 aircrews on alert status, supporting the operational readiness of the next generation of U.S. air power.
Mission-critical facilities
“This award represents an important milestone as we continue supporting the B-21 Raider Program at Ellsworth Air Force Base,” said Edward Novak, Conti Federal Project Executive.
“Earning our ninth project reflects the trust our customer has placed in our team and our ability to consistently deliver complex, mission-critical facilities that support national defense.”
Conti Federal’s scope includes construction of a 22,000-square-foot, single-story lodging and readiness facility for B-21 aircrews, as well as an Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) facility supporting B-21 alert operations, according to a press release.
Through its continued work supporting the B-21 Raider bed-down program at Ellsworth AFB, Conti Federal has built a significant execution enterprise and established strong relationships with regional trade partners in the Rapid City area. These partnerships and local expertise support efficient project delivery and continued mission success, as per the release.
The company also revealed that the construction activities are expected to be completed in November 2028.
The US Air Force previously highlighted that the B-21 Raider will be a dual-capable penetrating strike stealth bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. The B-21 will form the backbone of the future Air Force bomber force consisting of B-21s and B-52s. Designed to operate in tomorrow’s high-end threat environment, the B-21 will play a critical role in ensuring America’s enduring airpower capability.
The B-21 Raider will be a component of a larger family of systems for conventional Long Range Strike, including Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, electronic attack, communication and other capabilities. It will be nuclear capable and designed to accommodate manned or unmanned operations. Additionally, it will be able to employ a broad mix of stand-off and direct-attack munitions.The B-21 is being designed with open systems architecture to reduce integration risk and enable competition for future modernization efforts to allow for the aircraft to evolve as the threat environment changes.
In addition to this award, Conti Federal’s B-21 program portfolio at Ellsworth AFB includes the 60 Row EPS South, Flight Simulator Facility, Phase Maintenance Hangar, Radio Frequency Hangar, Fuel Systems Maintenance Dock, Dock 81, 60 Row EPS North and the Weapons Loader Training Facility. As a key contributor to the B-21 bed-down effort at Ellsworth AFB, Conti Federal continues to support the infrastructure required to advance the future of U.S air power, as per the release.