Qarbon Aerospace has secured a contract to manufacture composite structures for the US Air Force’s B-1B Lancer bomber, supporting efforts to maintain the ageing aircraft fleet while the service prepares for the introduction of the B-21 Raider. Under the agreement, Qarbon will produce structures for Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR). The financial value of the contract and the specific components involved have not been disclosed. The award builds on a collaboration announced by Qarbon and NIAR in late 2025. NIAR contributes expertise in aircraft design, structural analysis, prototyping, certification and manufacturing process development, while Qarbon provides large-scale production capabilities for complex composite and metallic aerostructures. The latest agreement will allow structures developed in NIAR’s research environment to progress into prototype manufacturing at Qarbon’s facilities. The work comes as the US Air Force continues investing in the B-1B fleet to preserve its operational relevance ahead of the B-21 Raider’s introduction. Budget documents indicate that the service planned to allocate $342 million to B-1 modernization between 2027 and 2031, with efforts aimed at keeping the aircraft in service through 2037. In July, personnel at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas conducted a validation event focused on integrating the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile using updated hardware and weapons software. Earlier, in May, a B-1B returned from Wichita after NIAR completed a major structural repair involving replacement of part of the forward intermediate fuselage, which forms a section of the aircraft’s upper structural spine. Qarbon’s new contract adds to the industrial work supporting the bomber’s continued maintenance and modernization.
