Bombers to remain in mid-Missouri as USAF plans to phase in new B-21s at Whiteman AFB

It looks like America’s bomber force will remain in mid-Missouri as the U.S. Air Force makes plans to modernize this fleet within the Fiscal Year 2019 President’s Budget Request.

The plan to replace older bombers with the new B-21 bomber at Whiteman Air Force Air Base received bipartisan support from Missouri officials.

According to a February 12 press release from the USAF, the budget request details their plan to update the B-52 Stratofortress fleet and continue modification to the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit while acquiring the new B-21 Raiders. The Raider has been under development by Northrop Grumman since a request for proposal to develop the aircraft was issued in 2014. Expected to be ready by the mid-2020s, the B-21 will be a long range, stealth bomber capable of delivering conventional or thermonuclear weapons.

According to “Air Force Plans to Retire B-2s and B-1s in Preparation for New B-21 Raider” February 12, 2018 in Popular Mechanics, the overall plan is to purchase 100 Raiders at a total cost of $80 billion for the jets and related equipment.