USAF B-1 and B-2 to be retired early

[aeropilot]

USAF announce plans to retire the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bomber fleets within the next 10 years..........

But keep the B-52 going until.......2050.

https://www.defensenews.com/smr/federal-budget/201...

[Trevatanus]

A B2 pilot has a gofund me page up to try to buy one and keep it airworthy.
Only looking to raise a Billion.

https://www.gofundme.com/buy-a-b2-stealth-bomber

[aeropilot]

Trevatanus said:

A B2 pilot has a gofund me page up to try to buy one and keep it airworthy.
Only looking to raise a Billion.

https://www.gofundme.com/buy-a-b2-stealth-bomber

[theplayingmantis]

[Eric Mc]

Nothing lasts forever - apart from the B-52.

B-52 replacements so far -

B-70
B-1A
B-1B
B-2

All either cancelled or being retired.

Other bombers that have come and gone during the B-52's tenure -

B-58 Hustler
FB-111


Of course, it needs to be remembered that the current B-52 fleet is only around 80 aircraft. There were over 700 B-52s built.

[aeropilot]

Eric Mc said:

Of course, it needs to be remembered that the current B-52 fleet is only around 80 aircraft. .

And they now only have 12 airframes left at AMARG as possible re-activation attrition replacements if they have any losses of the active fleet, so I suspect that active fleet of just under 80 will also have to reduce down to 50-60 when the B-1 and B-2 retire to allow for attrition replacements.

[HarryFlatters]

aeropilot said:

USAF announce plans to retire the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bomber fleets within the next 10 years.........

Caveat - Only if the B-21 is completed by then.

[Krikkit]

HarryFlatters said:

aeropilot said:

USAF announce plans to retire the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bomber fleets within the next 10 years.........

Caveat - Only if the B-21 is completed by then.

0 chance of that imho. It was only awarded to Grumman in 2015, and they're not slated to be operational until at least 2030 (with no program delays)...

[aeropilot]

Krikkit said:

HarryFlatters said:

aeropilot said:

USAF announce plans to retire the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bomber fleets within the next 10 years.........

Caveat - Only if the B-21 is completed by then.

0 chance of that imho. It was only awarded to Grumman in 2015, and they're not slated to be operational until at least 2030 (with no program delays)...

Agree, although, it could have been worse - they could have given the contract to LM

[Trevatanus]

Eric Mc said:

Nothing lasts forever - apart from the B-52.

B-52 replacements so far -

B-70
B-1A
B-1B
B-2

All either cancelled or being retired.

Other bombers that have come and gone during the B-52's tenure -

B-58 Hustler
FB-111


Of course, it needs to be remembered that the current B-52 fleet is only around 80 aircraft. There were over 700 B-52s built.

I think the actual number is 76, but I wonder how many could be brought back to readiness from Davis Monthan like "Ghostrider" was?
We have the B2 and B1's for best part of another decade yet.

[aeropilot]

Trevatanus said:

I think the actual number is 76, but I wonder how many could be brought back to readiness from Davis Monthan like "Ghostrider" was?

As my post above, they now only have 12 H-model's left that can be brought back if needed as attrition replacements.

[Escapegoat]

No worries. By the time these are retired, the Chinese will have something competitive and Uncle Sam can buy them from AliExpress.