U.S. Air Force Extends Service Life of B-1 and B-2 Bombers

According to a report by Reference News on September 21, a U.S. Air Force official stated on the 16th that the service life of two bomber aircraft will be extended to better maintain the readiness of the fleet, as reported by the U.S. publication Defense News on September 18.

In deciding to extend the service life of the B-1 "Lancer" and B-2 "Spirit" bombers, the U.S. Air Force is accelerating the development of its next-generation stealth bomber, the B-21 "Raider," and speeding up production.

General Stephen L. Davis, commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command, stated during a panel discussion titled "Flying and Maintenance: For Combat and Victory" at the Air Force and Space Force Association's 2026 Aerospace, Space, and Cyber Conference that both bombers will have their service extended.

The commander noted that experienced pilots who have flown these two bombers will make up part of the first group of B-21 bomber pilots.

The "Raider" bomber is currently progressing as planned, with an expected delivery to Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota in 2027.

The Air Force aims to replace the aging B-1 and B-2 bomber fleet with at least 100 B-21s over the coming decades.

Davis highlighted the Air Force's Bomber Crew Readiness Augmentation Training (BSTAR) program, which aims to address the gap in B-1 bomber pilots and issues related to flight hour readiness.

The commander did not specify how long the service life of these two bombers will be extended, but the Air Force plans to modernize and invest in the B-1 and B-2 bombers in the coming years, even though both aircraft are scheduled to retire within the next decade.

Recently, the Air Force launched the "Polaris Readiness Initiative," aimed at increasing the number of B-52 "Stratofortress" strategic bombers and B-1 bombers capable of executing missions by accelerating parts delivery, engineering support, and base-level maintenance. (Translated by Hu Lin)