The Air Force has not ruled out sending B-52s to US Central Command to backfill the capability of B-1Bs leaving theater to undergo an avionics upgrade, a service spokesman said Thursday. “All options are on the table with regard to what mix of aircraft will replace the B-1 in the US Central Command area of operations,” the spokesman said. Lt. Gen. John Raymond, USAF’s deputy chief of staff for operations, had suggested that B-52s were out of the mix at a Wednesday AFA-sponsored, Air Force breakfast.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
