Pacific Bomber Rotations to be Longer

March 19, 2010

The Air Force is going to extend the now-routine deployment of B-52s and B-2s to the Pacific region from four-month tours to six months, according to testimony by Maj. Gen. David Scott, the Air Staff’s director of operational capability requirements. Scott told the Senate Armed Services strategic forces panel March 17 that the deployments for the service’s continuous bomber presence (CBP) mission supporting US Pacific Command, which has been on-going since 2003, would be “growing from 120-day to a 179-day period.” Currently, USAF B-2 and B-52 units share the rotation, with two B-52 turns for every one B-2. (Written testimony)

Related Content

If America Wants Airpower, It Needs to Invest in Its Air Force 

July 2, 2025
The Pentagon’s fiscal 2026 defense budget, submitted to Congress last week, accelerates the downsizing of the U.S. Air Force. It proposes divesting 340 aircraft, while only acquiring 76. These cuts risk the Air Force’s ability prevail.   “Peace through strength” has...

‘What ACE Is All About’: Dispersion Protects Airmen, Planes During Iran Attack

July 2, 2025
As the Air Force readied for its June 21-22 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the service was also putting its Agile Combat Employment strategy into action, dispersing combat aircraft and Airmen from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in preparation for a possible Iranian retaliatory attack. Some defense experts say…

First Missile Warning Satellite Launch to MEO Slips, But More to Come

July 1, 2025
The Space Force's first planned satellite launch to begin a new missile warning constellation in medium-Earth orbit has slipped from late 2026 to spring 2027 as a key component remains unproven. But the service is making progress and moving forward with plans for new batches of satellites, the Guardian in charge…

Senate Passes Reconciliation Bill with Billions for Air Force and Space Force

July 1, 2025
The Senate passed Republicans’ sweeping tax-and-spending package July 1 in a 51-50 vote, the culmination of a 27-hour marathon legislative session. The package—often called the reconciliation bill—includes a $150 billion package of defense funds that accounts for a significant portion of the money the Air Force and Space Force want…

Senate Confirms New Commanders for Europe, Middle East, ACC

June 30, 2025
The Senate confirmed new leaders of U.S. forces in Europe and the Middle East over the weekend. Lawmakers on June 29 also approved a reshuffling of Air Force officials that will put new faces in the service’s Pentagon headquarters as well as at its largest command.

SDA’s Next Phase of Data Transport Satellites on Hold

June 30, 2025
The long-term future of one of the Space Development Agency’s two satellite constellations is on hold as officials study the options for replacing a planned “data transport layer” with one or more commercial solutions. President Trump’s proposed 2026 defense budget...