RAPID CITY, S.D., June 27, 2026 — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $44 million military construction contract to Conti Federal Services LLC for the construction of permanent Environmental Protection Shelters (EPS) at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, supporting the arrival of the first operational B-21 Raider stealth bombers in 2027.
Awarded by the Corps' Omaha District, the contract was selected through a competitive process that received six bids. Construction will be carried out entirely at Ellsworth Air Force Base and is scheduled for completion by October 3, 2028. The full contract value was funded through fiscal year 2026 military construction appropriations.
Environmental Protection Shelters
The project, designated "B-21: 60 Row South Environmental Shelters," includes the construction of five pre-engineered metal shelters, each measuring approximately 20,000 square feet. The facilities will provide space for aircraft parking and routine flightline maintenance.
The contract also includes airfield and ground support equipment (GSE) paving and construction of three 160-square-foot maintenance kiosks equipped with electrical and communications infrastructure.
Unlike the B-2 Spirit, which depends on climate-controlled hangars because of its delicate radar-absorbent coating, the B-21 Raider uses more durable composite stealth materials that are robotically woven and chemically baked into the aircraft's structure. This allows the bomber to operate from protected outdoor shelters while reducing the effects of snow, ice, ultraviolet exposure, and severe winter weather.
The U.S. Air Force expects the B-21 to achieve a mission-capable rate of more than 80 percent, compared with the B-2's historical rate of 50 to 60 percent, reflecting improvements in aircraft design and maintenance.
Part of Ellsworth's B-21 Infrastructure Program
Ellsworth Air Force Base, currently home to the B-1B Lancer, is the first operational base selected for the B-21 Raider. Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and Dyess Air Force Base in Texas will become the second and third operational B-21 bases.
The installation is undergoing an estimated $1.5 billion modernization program that includes construction or renovation of more than 60 facilities to support the new bomber fleet.
Conti Federal Services has also been awarded several other B-21 infrastructure projects at Ellsworth, including a $135.5 million, 95,000-square-foot Phase Maintenance Hangar, along with a flight simulator facility, radio frequency hub, fuel cell maintenance dock, and weapons loader training facility.
B-21 Raider Program
Developed by Northrop Grumman, the B-21 Raider is a next-generation stealth strategic bomber designed to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons, including the B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb and the Long Range Stand-Off (LRSO) cruise missile.
The aircraft features a Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) that allows rapid replacement and upgrading of digital systems. Although its exact dimensions remain classified, the twin-engine flying-wing bomber is estimated to be 10 to 20 percent smaller than the B-2 Spirit, with a wingspan of approximately 132 to 150 feet, while offering improved fuel efficiency.
The U.S. Air Force plans to acquire at least 100 B-21 Raiders at a target unit cost of approximately $692 million. U.S. Strategic Command has recommended expanding the fleet to 145 or more aircraft, while a $4.5 billion production acceleration agreement signed earlier in 2026 is increasing manufacturing capacity at Northrop Grumman's Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.
The Environmental Protection Shelters are among the latest infrastructure projects supporting the B-21 Raider beddown program as the U.S. Air Force prepares Ellsworth Air Force Base for the introduction of its next-generation strategic bomber.
——— End of Article ———
