Qarbon Aerospace has won a contract to manufacture composite structures for the US Air Force’s B-1B Lancer bomber as the service continues to invest in keeping the aging aircraft in operation.
The deal will see Qarbon produce the structures for Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR). Financial terms and the specific components covered were not disclosed.
The work builds on a collaboration between Qarbon and NIAR announced in late 2025.
NIAR brings expertise in aircraft design, structural analysis, prototyping, certification, and manufacturing process development, while Qarbon contributes large-scale production capabilities for complex composite and metallic aerostructures.
Under the new agreement, the partners will move composite structures developed in NIAR’s research environment into prototype production at Qarbon’s facilities.
“The B-1B has been critical to America’s long-range strike mission for decades, and Qarbon is proud to support it,” Qarbon CEO Michael Canario said.
US Air Force Extends B-1B Modernization
Qarbon’s award comes as the air force works to keep the B-1B fleet operational while preparing to introduce the next-generation B-21 Raider bomber.
Budget documents show that the US Air Force planned to spend $342 million on B-1 modernization from 2027 through 2031, with plans to keep the bomber relevant through 2037.
In July, B-1B personnel at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, conducted a validation event for 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 undergoing a major repair at NIAR that replaced a section of the aircraft’s forward intermediate fuselage, part of its upper structural spine.