In all, the service plans to retire 17 B-1B supersonic bombers to free maintenance funds and labour for the 45 examples of the aircraft that will remain in the fleet. The reduced fleet should also free up funds for buying the in-development Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bomber.
Air Force begins divesting B-1B Lancers to make way for B-21
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A B-1B Lancer is prepared for divestiture at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., on Tuesday. Photo by Quentin Marx/U.S. Air Force
Feb. 18 (UPI) The Air Force has announced plans to begin divesting 17 B-1B Lancers from its current fleet in order to make way for the B-21 Raider.
On Thursday, the service said the retirement of the 17 aircraft will leave 45 in the active fleet and will not affect the service s lethality or any associated maintenance manpower.
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Instead, officials will be able to focus maintenance and depot-level manpower on the remaining aircraft.
The U.S. Air Force Has Started To Divest the B-1 Bomber Fleet With First BONE Retired At The Boneyard
The U.S. Air Force Has Started To Divest the B-1 Bomber Fleet With First BONE Retired At The Boneyard
Master Sgt. David Jackson, the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron production superintendent, salutes a B-1B Lancer that is being divested prior to its final launch from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Feb. 17, 2021. The divestiture of the B-1 is necessary in order for the Air Force to create an even more lethal, agile and sustainable force with a greater competitive edge in today’s fight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Jonah Fronk)
By Staff Sgt. Sadie Colbert, 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs / Published February 16, 2021
Multiple 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron Airmen stand for a group photo during Red Flag 21-1, Feb. 6, 2021, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Along with aircrew, approximately 100 Team Whiteman Airmen participated in the large-force exercise as the lead wing. As the lead wing, RF 21-1 enabled Team Whiteman Airmen to maintain a high state of readiness and proficiency, while validating their always-ready global strike capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Sadie Colbert)
A B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber sits on a flightline during Red Flag 21-1, Feb. 1, 2021, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. During RF 21-1, the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron flew approximately 60 B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber training missions with multiple aircraft in order to further enhance their experience for future sorties. Aircrews rotated their mission duties throughout the large-force exercise,
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Submitted Photo
Staff Sgt. Alex Graves and Maj. Zach Roycroft perform preflight checks for the first time on the Air Forceâs newest helicopter, the MH-139A Grey Wolf, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, shown in this Air Force photo. Graves, an Air Force Global Strike Command Detachment 7 special mission aviator, and Roycroft, 413th Flight Test Squadron test pilot, were part of the aircraftâs first combined test flight Feb. 11, 2020. The Grey Wolf is set to replace the Air Forceâs UH-1N Huey fleet.
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE – It’s still a ways off yet but Minot Air Force Base is getting ready for the Air Force’s new MH-139A “Grey Wolf” helicopters to replace the Vietnam-era UH-1N Huey helicopters.