Bombers
When B-21 comes online next decade, the Air Force will have to make some tough choices on what to do with its legacy bomber fleet, Rand said Feb. 25 during a media roundtable. The newest bomber, the B-2, is already 25 years old; meanwhile the service is still flying 1980s B-1s and 1950s B-52s.
When the Air Force begins to phase in the B-21, it will be “very, very difficult” to maintain all four bomber fleets due to shortfalls in money and manpower, Rand said.
A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit multi-role bomber, 393rd Bomb Squadron, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., and two F-15E Strike Eagle dual-role fighters, 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, fly in formation over the Pacific. The bombers deployed as the 393 Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, and the fighters as the 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron to Andersen representing Pacific Air Force's projection of Global Strike and resolve for U.S. allies in the Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo) (Released)
“What we need to do with the discussion of LRS-B now is modify and refine where do we want to be in 2025 and out, and what — based on capacity, capability again — what are we going to be able to afford and maintain?” Rand said.
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Rand will present a roadmap to the Air Force major commands and the chief of staff toward the end of March that lays out his strategy for bringing the bomber force into the future. The plan will include the B-21, upgrades for legacy platforms, and a recommendation on whether to retire older airplanes, he said.
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