US Air Force lays groundwork for major changes to bomber fleet
By Stephen Losey
Dec 8, 05:30 AM
WASHINGTON — With December’s public debut of the B-21 Raider, the U.S. Air Force’s preparations to receive its newest stealth bomber — and transform its bomber fleet — will kick off in 2023.
The rollout of the Northrop Grumman-made aircraft, which took place Dec. 2 at Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, marked the first time the Air Force unveiled a new bomber in more than three decades.
In years to come, the Air Force’s bomber fleet — now made up of B-1B Lancers, B-2 Spirits and B-52 Stratofortresses — will look very different. The service wants to have a two-bomber fleet consisting of at least 100 B-21s plus a revamped fleet of B-52s with new F130 engines by Rolls-Royce. The Air Force currently has 76 B-52s.
The B-1 and B-2 fleets are on track for retirement by the early 2030s. The B-1′s retirement already started, with 17 of the fleet’s oldest and most ailing airframes retired last year to free up the labor force and resources, leaving 45 remaining.
https://www.defensenews.com/outlook/2022/12/05/us-air-force-lays-groundwork-for-major-changes-to-bomber-fleet/
