When it comes to B-2 bombers, the U.S. Air Force still has one of the most important bombers in the world.
The B-1B, the last of the strategic bombers, has seen almost 70 years of service and was the last to retire from active service in 2008.
But in 2017, B-53 and B-21 bombers have been phased out of service in favor of newer and cheaper F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, which cost much less.
The Air Force announced a plan to retire the B, but there is no word yet on when that would be.
What is going on?
While the B52 Stratocop was a reliable fighter that provided air cover for bombers and bomber escorts, the B51 Stratocopter is not just any fighter.
The aircraft has been used for a number of missions, including bombing the Soviet Union in the 1970s and early 1980s.
In fact, the Air Force has even given the B41 an award for “most efficient and effective use of available military resources.”
The B51 was built for the Cold War and the B61 is the newest version.
The first B51, which entered service in 1952, was the first fighter to be flown at an altitude of 500 feet.
It was armed with a 20mm cannon, four-man crew, and a single-engine bomber.
The crew was manned by two pilots and two navigators.
The last B-51, in production since 1975, is the fifth B-57.
It has been out of active service since 2012, and it is expected to retire by 2025.
Why is the B57 being phased out?
The B57 was originally intended to replace the B47, but the two fighters are being phased-out at the same time.
The decision was made after the B67, a four-engine fighter, was retired in December 2020.
The C-130J Hercules transport aircraft is the primary B-47 replacement, but that will be phased out as well.
The two other B-27s are being retired and replaced by the F-16, F-18, and F-22 fighters.
The F-4 Phantom jets are being replaced by F-15E/F fighter jets, the F/A-18C/D/E fighters, and the FIM-92A/B/C fighters.
A fourth jet, the A-10 Thunderbolt II, is being retired.
Who has a stake in this?
The Pentagon is looking to make changes to the aircraft as part of a plan called the Next Generation Fighter Modernization Program.
In 2018, the Department of Defense announced that it had awarded $3.6 billion to research and development for the B6, a replacement for the F2 and B5 bombers that was first fielded in 1961.
The program aims to replace or augment B-5s and B52s.
It also wants to replace older aircraft such as the B7B and B7E, the twin-engine B-25 Superfortress bombers, and other smaller aircraft.
This story was written by Eric Stolle, an aerospace reporter for Crypto Coins.
Follow him on Twitter at @ericstolle.
Follow us on Twitter @CMSBitcoin.