SOUTH DAKOTA — A key Senate committee has approved billions for America’s next-generation bomber fleet and major military construction in South Dakota, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds said this week.

Rounds, a Republican who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairs its Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, confirmed that the new National Defense Authorization Act includes $3.5 billion to advance the B-21 Raider program, which will replace aging B-1 bombers at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Box Elder.

Ellsworth will become the first installation to host B-21 squadrons, starting with a training squadron and an operational squadron — a third could follow. The base has been preparing for years with new infrastructure and facilities.

“That doesn’t include the additional infrastructure around the base itself that we’re going to need, the new schools and so forth,” Rounds said, noting the local community is already growing to keep pace. Earlier this year, the state approved a $15 million, no-interest loan to help the Douglas School District expand to serve new families moving to Box Elder for B-21 jobs.

Rounds said he doesn’t have a firm timeline for when the B-21s will arrive, but stressed that the new funding pushes the stealth bomber project closer to becoming fully operational. The Air Force expects each B-21 to cost about $700 million — with an initial fleet of 100 ordered and the potential to double that number.

In total, Ellsworth construction alone will top $1 billion, with the new bill authorizing $378 million for ongoing base development.

The measure also sets aside $28 million for a National Guard vehicle maintenance building in Watertown, South Dakota, plus a 3.8% pay raise for all military personnel — an annual boost Rounds said helps keep the U.S. defense workforce strong.

The authorization act outlines priorities but does not release the actual funding yet. Congress must pass separate appropriations legislation to unlock the money, which Rounds said he hopes will advance later this year.

The B-21 Raider, developed by Northrop Grumman in California, has been in development since 2015 and is designed to modernize America’s long-range strike capabilities. The new bombers are expected to remain a core part of U.S. deterrence for decades to come.

Ellsworth’s strategic role has driven a population surge and local investments in Box Elder and Rapid City. Beyond military infrastructure, leaders say new schools, roads, and services are needed to keep up.

The funding comes as South Dakota’s congressional delegation and local leaders continue to position the state as a key hub for advanced national defense missions.

Originally reported by John Hult in Sioux Falls.