New Mexico lawmakers may be willing to let go of the 20-year-old F-117 stealth fighter—in exchange for another fighter or, perhaps, a UAV—but the same does not apply to their counterparts in Louisiana and North Dakota, which host the Air Force’s fleet of 40-year-old B-52s. USAF wants to pare the fleet down to 56 bombers, but there is no replacement within sight. In an interview with the National Journal, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) says the issue should be one of efficiency. He maintains the B-52, as the “most efficient” bomber in the force, should not be sacrificed to pay for upgrades on the B-1B and B-2 bombers. Meanwhile, NJ reports that the Louisiana contingent plans to meet with Air Force officials on Tuesday to discuss the bomber situation.
The Sentinel Launch Support System, the digital backbone for testing the new intercontinental ballistic missile over its expected 50-year life, has completed critical design review, Northrop Grumman said Oct. 20.
