- Whiteman Air Force Base has been awarded a $74.9 million contract to build a dedicated hangar for the B-21 Raider.
- The new facility will support B-21 maintenance and mission readiness, and includes specialized work areas.
- Conti Federal has direct experience with similar B-21 infrastructure and will guide planning at Whiteman.
- Once completed, the hangar will become a key piece of infrastructure supporting B-21 operations, meeting the program's engineering requirements.
A $74.9 million construction contract will bring dedicated B-21 Raider infrastructure to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri for the first time. The firm-fixed-price contract was awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, to Conti Kight JV, a partnership composed of Conti Federal Services and Kight Construction Group. The project will establish a new radio frequency hangar to support future operations of the stealth bomber at the base.
Whiteman Air Force Base currently operates the B-2 Spirit and is set to become the second planned B-21 operational base, while Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota currently leads the B-21 bedding-down effort.
Design and Function of the New Facility
The new facility will focus on a single B-21 aircraft position, with the design also incorporating specialized work areas needed to support aircraft maintenance and mission preparation. Engineers will incorporate logistical work bays, material storage, administrative areas, and other supporting spaces into the facility. The hangar will be specifically oriented toward the radio frequency and metrology work associated with the B-21 program. This function is critical for an aircraft designed around low observability. Radio frequency testing helps technicians inspect systems operating within the electromagnetic spectrum.
Conti Federal already has direct experience with this type of B-21 infrastructure, as the company is building a similar RF hangar at Ellsworth Air Force Base. That project has given the joint venture first-hand experience with the program's dedicated construction requirements. The lessons learned from Ellsworth can help guide planning and execution at Whiteman.
Kight Construction brings another advantage to the partnership, as its experience in federal construction and familiarity with the local market can help the team work around Whiteman. This arrangement combines program-specific knowledge with proven local capability, which is essential for an active Air Force installation project involving specialized infrastructure. Conti Federal has worked on multiple B-21-related facilities, with a portfolio that includes alert facilities, flight simulator facilities, and phase maintenance hangars. Other projects include fuel systems maintenance infrastructure, Pier 81, and an environmental protection shelter.
The company has also been involved in the construction of weapons load crew training facilities, projects that have given Conti Federal experience across multiple parts of the B-21 support ecosystem.
Significance of the Hangar Construction
The Whiteman hangar will add another dedicated facility to that portfolio. The construction contract marks an important step in Whiteman's preparation to receive the B-21. The base, currently home to the B-2, has already played a significant role in the U.S. strategic bomber fleet. The B-21 program is gradually expanding its physical footprint beyond Ellsworth, and the new infrastructure at Whiteman will support this transition as the Air Force prepares for future Raider operations. The project is scheduled to complete construction by September 2029.
Once completed, the hangar will become part of the infrastructure supporting B-21 operations at Whiteman. The project also illustrates the engineering demands that come with the transition to the new bomber fleet. Bedding-down requirements extend beyond mere parking space and require dedicated facilities to test, maintain, and support increasingly complex systems.
The Future Development of Whiteman Air Force Base
The B-21 Raider dedicated hangar construction contract at Whiteman Air Force Base reflects the U.S. Air Force's emphasis on future strategic bombers. As the B-21 program advances, base infrastructure will extend beyond aircraft parking space and must meet the testing and maintenance demands of complex systems. Conti Federal's experience will help ensure the effective operation of the new facility, further enhancing the base's strategic capabilities. This construction is not only a supplement to existing facilities but also a significant investment in future Air Force combat capability.