In February, the Air Force announced that it will begin retiring the B-1B Lancer from service by divesting 17 bombers from the fleet of 62.
The divestment is being done to cut costs, streamline modernization and maintenance for other aircraft, and prepare for the introduction of the Air Force's future B-21 Raider bomber.
"Beginning to retire legacy bombers, to make way for the B-21 Raider, is something we have been working toward for some time," Gen. Tim Ray, the head of Air Force Global Strike Command, said in a release. "We're just accelerating planned retirements."
Four of the bombers are expected to be kept in Type 2000 storage, meaning they can be returned if needed after maintenance, but may most likely be stripped for parts. (The Air Force has already resurrected two B-52s.)
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