Through a series of publicly available reports submitted to the United States Congress focused on the state of the Armed Forces, one report has drawn particular attention to the current state and future of the U.S. Air Force’s strategic bomber fleet. This issue is far from minor, as according to the Nuclear Posture Review, these aircraft constitute an “integral” part of the country’s nuclear triad, while also being the “most flexible and visible component.” For this reason, the Congressional Research Service assessed the current status of the B-52H, B-1B Lancer, and B-2 Spirit bombers, as well as the future B-21 Raider, identifying three key issues that lawmakers should closely monitor: the required size of the future B-21 Raider fleet, the alert status of nuclear-capable bombers, and the hardening and protection of the bases from which they operate.
Currently, and until the B-21 Raider is fielded, the U.S. strategic bomber fleet is composed of three aircraft models, all of which have been in service for decades but continue to provide a significant deterrent capability in every scenario and region where they are deployed.
Each of these aircraft is undergoing modernization and obsolescence-removal programs to ensure operational effectiveness for years to come. The most significant of these is undoubtedly the B-52H modernization program, which includes the integration of new Rolls-Royce F130 commercial engines and a new radar system.
According to the U.S. Air Force, the plan is to have 51 B-52Hs upgraded to the “J” variant by fiscal year 2032, with the remaining 23 bombers to be modernized by FY2033.
The B-1B Lancer is expected to be the first bomber retired with the arrival of the B-21 Raider, although this has not stopped members of Congress from attempting to slow down the rate at which these aircraft are being withdrawn from service. From an original fleet of 100 units, the USAF is now estimated to have about 45 aircraft.
As for the B-2 Spirit, the USAF currently has 19 aircraft in operational condition, following the scheduled retirement of one unit severely damaged in 2022, which is set to be officially removed from service in FY2025.
The strategic importance of the B-2 lies primarily in its stealth and nuclear capabilities, as it can carry various types of atomic weapons, such as the B61 and B83 gravity bombs. Moreover, in light of the current conflict between Israel and Iran, the B-2 remains the only platform in service capable of safely delivering the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-busting bomb.
This strategic value is reflected in a 2024 contract awarded to Northrop Grumman, estimated at $7 billion, to maintain and modernize the B-2 fleet’s communications systems, engines, and avionics.
Against this backdrop, the Congressional Research Service has identified three key issues that lawmakers will need to follow closely and that will likely become focal points in future hearings and committee discussions:
First, in the context of the bomber fleet’s renewal, there is the question of what the final size and quantity of B-21 Raiders should be. According to a statement by the U.S. Air Force in March 2025, the service would require a total of 145 B-21s, a number that exceeds the originally projected 100, while other reports suggest the fleet should total as many as 200 aircraft.
Second, in relation to the nuclear triad, several groups have proposed that the strategic bomber fleet return to daily nuclear alert status, as was the case during the Cold War—an initiative that would involve significant costs.
The report notes that the Air Force has already been tasked with conducting a study to “…assess the costs and impacts of reactivating alert status in the absence of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs),” adding the recommendation that “…the Air Force plan and prepare for some future U.S. bombers to be on continuous alert status.”
Lastly, a growing concern is the protection of the facilities and air bases from which the strategic bombers operate. The recent large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian bomber fleet has had a strong impact on U.S. congressional and military leadership perceptions, raising alarms about the apparent vulnerability of certain installations—particularly those located in the Pacific—in the event of a conflict with China.
In this regard, and reflecting the stance of several members of Congress, the report highlights that “…members of Congress have advocated for base hardening and the implementation of ‘passive defenses,’ such as force dispersion, camouflage, and concealment at Air Force bases in the Indo-Pacific region. Lawmakers may consider whether to allocate funds to strengthen infrastructure at major operating bases and, eventually, at smaller airfields to support force dispersion.”
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