US Starts B-21 Raider Shelter Construction at Ellsworth With $49.8M Contract

The US Army Corps of Engineers awarded Conti Federal Services a $49.8 million contract to build six environmental protection shelters for B-21 Raider bombers at Ellsworth Air Force Base, with completion due by November 2028.

At a Glance

• Contract: $49.8 million to Conti Federal Services, awarded by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
• Scope: six pre-engineered metal shelters (~20,000 sq ft), three maintenance kiosks, paving, and partial demolition/repair of existing facilities.
• Location: Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota — the B-21’s first main operating base.
• Completion: November 2028.
• The B-21’s more durable stealth materials reduce reliance on enclosed hangars.

What the Contract Covers

The $49.8 million USACE award tasks Conti Federal with six environmental protection shelters to shield parked B-21s from the weather, plus three maintenance kiosks, airfield and ground-support-equipment paving, and partial demolition and repair of existing facilities, all by November 2028.

The shelters reflect a deliberate design choice: the B-21’s stealth materials were engineered to be more durable than those of previous-generation stealth aircraft, easing the B-2-era requirement for climate-controlled hangars for every airframe.

Ellsworth’s Growing B-21 Footprint

The award joins a broader infrastructure push at the B-21’s first main operating base, following recent contracts for a $39.9 million lodging facility and a $36.3 million simulator building, alongside production expansion at Palmdale, California.

The Northrop Grumman B-21 will renew the air leg of the US nuclear triad, with at least 100 aircraft planned.

Why It Matters

A shelter contract looks routine; in reality it is one of the most concrete signals that the B-21’s operational bed-down schedule is on track — November 2028 implies a flying fleet at Ellsworth by then.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn’t the B-21 need enclosed hangars?

Its stealth coatings were designed to be more durable than the B-2’s, so flight-line shelters can suffice — significantly cutting fleet operating costs.

Sources

• The Defense Post (10 August 2026) — Contract value, scope, location and timeline.