U.S. Air Force Bomber Sustainment and Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress

The central issue addressed by this report is how much Congress should consider appropriating for the continued sustainment and modernization of the B-52, B-1, and B-2 bombers over the remainder of their service lives. Many military experts note the advanced age of the United States long-range bomber fleet. The B-52H Stratofortress, B-1B Lancer, and B-2A Spirit are now about 50, 28, and 20 years old, respectively. Air Force Global Strike Command declared 2012 the Year of the B-52 in honor of the 50th anniversary of the last delivery of a B-52 and the 60th anniversary of the first test flight of the YB-52. The B-1B celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2010. The last B-2 delivery was in 1997. Although the Department of Defense and the Air Force are committed to the development and fielding of a new Long-Range Strike-Bomber LRS-B, flight-testing of the new bomber will likely not start until the mid-2020s. Initial development of the B-2 began in the early 1980s, and the first aircraft was delivered on December 17, 1993. If the B-2 experience is the norm, potential delivery of the first operational LRS-B may be expected sometime in the 2030 timeframe. With this in mind, can the U.S. Air Forces B-52Hs, B-1Bs, and B-2As physically last and continue to be credible weapon systems until the LRS-B is fielded More importantly, does the nations legacy bomber force possess the capabilities required to meet national security strategy objectives, especially in the face of potential adversaries possessing advanced, 21st century anti-accessarea-denial A2AD weapon systems The U.S. Air Force and aerospace industrys answer is yes, provided sufficient sustainment and modernization funding is available over the remaining lifespan of these weapon systems.