Six B-1B bombers and some 173 airmen from the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., have arrived at Eielson AFB, Alaska, to lead the action for the first Red Flag-Alaska of 2007, now underway and continuing through April 21. About 80 aircraft from the Air Force and Navy and foreign countries are participating in this first of three Alaskan Red Flags for 2007.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.