BLU-63A/B submunition
Air-dropped high-explosive fragmentation bombletThe BLU-63A/B connection is sourced to a GAO report that reviewed the Air Force program to procure BLU-63/B bomblets.
Sources: Review of BLU-63/B Bomblet ProgramManufacturer catalog
U.S. Air Force procurement
U.S. Air Force procurement is the Department of the Air Force's acquisition and contracting function for weapons, aircraft, munitions, sustainment, and related technology programs. Public records sometimes identify an Air Force program office or contracting authority as the procurement actor for a system, especially for government-managed buys where the production chain spans multiple private contractors, depots, or ammunition plants.
1 weaponsThe Department of the Air Force acquisition enterprise oversees research, development, acquisition, contracting, and program sustainment across a portfolio that official Air Force material describes as more than 550 acquisition programs and an annual budget above $60 billion. Its contracting arm sets Air Force-wide contracting policy, advises acquisition leadership, manages a large contracting workforce, and monitors field contracting activity across major commands and other Air Force organizations.
For historical munitions and modern aircraft programs, Air Force procurement records can be the clearest public trail for how a system moved from requirement to funded contract. GAO's BLU-63/B review documents an Air Force bomblet procurement program in the early 1970s, while recent Air Force reporting on the B-21 Raider shows the Department of the Air Force using funded procurement agreements to expand production capacity for a next-generation bomber.
Notable Systems
B-21 Raider
Stealth strategic bomberOfficial Air Force reporting describes Department of the Air Force procurement and production-capacity agreements for the B-21 Raider, which is already cataloged as a Northrop Grumman-built stealth bomber.
Sources: Air Force awards B-21 Raider advance procurement, DAF increases B-21 Raider production capacityManufacturer History
GAO reviews the Air Force BLU-63/B procurement program
GAO's review of the Air Force program to procure BLU-63/B bomblets is one of the clearest public records linking this organization to a specific Air Force munitions buy.
Sources: Review of BLU-63/B Bomblet Program
Air Force Materiel Command created
The Air Force Materiel Command fact sheet says the command was created on July 1, 1992 and that its core missions include research and development, life-cycle management, test and evaluation, sustainment, and logistics support for Air Force systems.
Sources: Air Force Materiel Command fact sheet
Air Force awards B-21 advance procurement
Air Force Materiel Command reported that the service awarded advance procurement funding for long-lead items needed for the first production lot of the B-21 Raider, illustrating the modern procurement role of the Air Force acquisition enterprise.
Sources: Air Force awards B-21 Raider advance procurement
Department of the Air Force expands B-21 production capacity
The Department of the Air Force and Northrop Grumman announced an agreement to expand B-21 Raider production capacity, applying already authorized and appropriated funding to accelerate the approved acquisition plan.
Sources: DAF increases B-21 Raider production capacity
Website links
U.S. Air Force procurement is an institutional acquisition function rather than a corporate producer. No fixed corporate headquarters was verified for this procurement attribution, so headquarters fields are omitted. No rights-clear reusable manufacturer image was verified during this task, so images are left empty.
Manufacturer Sources
- Air Force Acquisition home pagePublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Official Air Force acquisition homepage supporting the office's identity and its role overseeing research, development, acquisition, and sustainment activities. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
- Air Force Acquisition contracting pagePublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Official contracting page supporting the Air Force procurement and contracting function, vendor resources, and policy context. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
- Contracting DivisionsPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Official Air Force Acquisition page supporting SAF/AQC responsibilities for Air Force-wide contracting policy, acquisition advising, workforce management, field surveillance, and competition advocacy. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
- Air Force Acquisition organizationsPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Official Air Force Acquisition organizations page supporting the name family and organizational framing of the acquisition enterprise. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
- Air Force Materiel Command fact sheetPublisher: U.S. Air Force Materiel Command | Note: Official fact sheet supporting AFMC's creation date and its acquisition-management role across research, development, test, sustainment, and logistics. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
- Review of BLU-63/B Bomblet ProgramPublisher: U.S. Government Accountability Office | Note: GAO review supporting the Air Force program to procure BLU-63/B bomblets and the procurement background attached to the BLU-63A/B system record. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
- Air Force awards B-21 Raider advance procurementPublisher: U.S. Air Force Materiel Command | Note: Official Air Force reporting on advance procurement funding for long-lead items for the first B-21 production lot, illustrating the modern procurement role of the Air Force acquisition enterprise. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
- DAF increases B-21 Raider production capacityPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Official Air Force reporting supporting the February 2026 Department of the Air Force and Northrop Grumman agreement to expand B-21 Raider production capacity with already authorized and appropriated funding. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
Produced weapons
Category
Munitions
Standalone missiles, bombs, rockets, torpedoes, and guided or unguided explosive payloads.