Air Force Plans to Keep B-1s Through 2037, Fly B-2s Longer

Air Force Plans to Keep B-1s Through 2037, Fly B-2s Longer

The Air Force is planning to invest nearly $1.7 billion to continue modernizing the B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers over the next five years, revising earlier plans to retire those aircraft before the B-21 Raider is fielded in bulk. Extending the bombers ensures USAF retains the speed, range, and stealth unique to those two platforms while it fields the next-generation B-21 and overhauls its B-52s into the new J configuration, with new engin…