Air Force Unaware of Any B-21 Bomber Quality Issues Involving Spirit AeroSystems

The United States Air Force has stated it is not aware of any quality problems associated with Spirit AeroSystems’ contributions to the B-21 bomber project. Despite recent scrutiny of Spirit due to an unrelated incident with an Alaska Airlines aircraft, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall expressed no knowledge of issues linked to Spirit’s work on the B-21 during the AFA Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado.

Spirit AeroSystems came under the spotlight following a January 5 incident where a door plug on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737, installed by Spirit, malfunctioned mid-flight. This event led to a temporary grounding of the 737-MAX 9 fleet for inspections. Additionally, Spirit faces a class-action lawsuit from shareholders alleging work defects, prompted by whistleblower claims.

Spirit AeroSystems is among the few named subcontractors by Northrop Grumman, the prime contractor for the B-21, alongside other key players like RTX’s Pratt & Whitney and BAE Systems. Details of Spirit’s specific role in the B-21 project are kept confidential due to the secretive nature of the program.

In response to the Alaska Airlines incident, Spirit is actively cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation, affirming its commitment to maintaining high-quality aircraft structures.

The Air Force maintains oversight on safety issues through the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), which ensures compliance with the Department of Defense’s quality standards. DCMA specialists stationed at Spirit facilities have full access to the company’s quality management systems, facilitating early detection and resolution of any production issues.

Despite the legal challenges and quality concerns in other projects, there was no confirmation from the Air Force about initiating a specific investigation into Spirit’s work on the B-21 bomber. The Air Force emphasizes its reliance on DCMA’s rigorous inspection and quality assurance processes across all its projects, including the highly anticipated B-21 bomber, which successfully completed its inaugural flight in November 2023.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, airandspaceforces.com