The Pentagon announced yesterday that it has given Northrop Grumman the go-ahead to begin production of the B-21 stealth bomber. “This past fall, based on the results of ground and flight tests and the team’s mature plans for manufacturing, I gave the go-ahead to begin producing B-21s at a low rate,” William LaPlante, defense undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment, said in a Jan. 22 statement, reported Defense One website. A total of six aircraft are expected to be built for the flight test program.