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U.S. Air Force retires its first of 17 B-1 bombers
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The first U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber scheduled to be scrapped, serial number 85-0066, arrived at its resting spot, Davis-Monahan Air Force Base, Ariz., on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force
Feb. 19 (UPI) The first of 17 B-1B bombers to be retired this year took its final flight, to Davis-Monahan Air Force Base, Ariz., this week, the Air Force announced.
It was given to the 309th Aircraft Maintenance and Regeneration Group at a section of the base known as the boneyard, intact but covered in protective coatings pending further disposition, which means it likely will be cannibalized and used for spare parts.
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Feb 19, 2021 07:39 AM EST
The start of retirement for the B-1B Bomber has begun as they, the B-21 Raiders, will come into prominence. Still capable of operation, but it is aging fast against new technology used in fighters, and antiaircraft defenses dictate it a risk.
One of the first B-1B Lancers going to the Boneyard was confirmed by the Air Force Global Strike Command. It announced last Wednesday as the planes will be mothballed and reducing the bomber fleet.
Lancers are getting replaced
This is the first step to slimming down the number of Lancers in the months to come. After all the planes are sent to the Boneyard, all left of the active Lancers will on be 45 planes left. Competition from modernizing adversaries dictates that the fleet be improved, reported Military.
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By Garrett Reim2021-02-18T20:53:00+00:00
The US Air Force (USAF) has retired the first of 17 Boeing B-1B Lancers that need expensive repairs to remain in service, further reducing its fleet of an aircraft designed to counter Cold War foes.
The service plans to retire the 17 supersonic bombers for the purpose of freeing funds and resources needed to support a smaller fleet of 45 B-1Bs. The project should also free money to purchase the in-development Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bomber.
Of the 100 Lancers built, the USAF decided in 2001 to retire 33 to pay for modernisation efforts at the time.