The Air Force outlined plans for its bomber fleet in its recent Fiscal Year 2019 President’s Budget Request. The budget request detailed the Air Force plan to update the B-52 Stratofortress fleet and continue modifications to the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit fleets while continuing to acquire B-21 Raiders. Once sufficient B-21 aircraft are operational, the B-1s and B-2s will be incrementally retired. Delivery and retirement timelines are dependent on the B-21 production and delivery schedules. The B-21, which the Air Force plans to start fielding in the mid-2020s, will eventually become the backbone of the U.S. Strategic bomber fleet. For more information about the Air Force’s fiscal 2019 budget request, visit the Air Force President's Budget FY19.
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