Expressing cautious optimism that Congress will finally acquiesce to USAF retiring the B-52s it wants to let go of, Air Force Secretary Wynne said Monday at the AFA conference in Washington, “Even the most ardent supporters of the B-52 agree that the real answer” to a healthy long-range strike requirement “is a system beyond” the current fleet. He said “support in Congress is gaining” for retiring a good portion of the B-52 fleet.
The U.S. military launched “self-defense” strikes against Iran on June 9 in response to the downing of a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, which President Donald Trump said was shot down by Iran.