US aerospace manufacturer Qarbon Aerospace will produce composite structures for the B-1B Lancer bomber under a new agreement supporting the US Air Force’s efforts to sustain its existing long-range strike fleet. The company will manufacture the components for Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research, although the contract value and precise scope of the structures have not been disclosed. The award expands a partnership between Qarbon and NIAR that was announced in late 2025. NIAR provides engineering capabilities spanning aircraft design, structural assessment, prototype development, certification and manufacturing processes. Qarbon contributes the industrial capacity required to manufacture complex composite and metallic aircraft structures at scale. Through the agreement, structures developed through NIAR’s research activities will move into prototype production at Qarbon’s facilities. The programme supports the Air Force’s broader plan to retain the B-1B as an operational asset while preparing to introduce the next-generation B-21 Raider. Budget planning documents indicate $342 million was earmarked for B-1 modernization from 2027 to 2031, with the aircraft expected to remain relevant through 2037. Recent activities include a July validation event at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, involving updated hardware and weapons software for the integration of the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile. In May, another B-1B returned from Wichita after NIAR carried out a major structural repair, replacing a section of the forward intermediate fuselage that forms part of the bomber’s upper structural spine. The latest Qarbon-NIAR agreement highlights the continued role of advanced composite manufacturing and industrial partnerships in extending the service life of the US Air Force’s existing bomber fleet.
