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)
A legislative standoff has led to a lapse in a $4.26 billion small business innovation contracting program widely used by the Air Force and could spell the end of it entirely, industry sources warned Air & Space Forces Magazine.


