The venerable B-52 bomber hit another milestone recently—the 50th anniversary of the combat ready declaration for the first B-52 wing. The Air Force on March 12, 1956, declared the 93rd Bombardment Wing, Barksdale AFB, La., combat ready. USAF had activated the new unit less than a year earlier, on June 29, 1955. USAF aircrews took the bomber into combat for the first time on June 18, 1965, during the Vietnam War.
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.
