The Air Force would like to reduce the size of the B-1 bomber fleet from 66 to 60 aircraft in order to help pay for upgrades to the B-1s remaining in the inventory and support their long-term sustainability, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley told lawmakers last week. This proposal is included in the service’s Fiscal 2012 budget request. “There are savings that are harvested from that,” he told the House Armed Services Committee in testimony on the service’s spending request for next fiscal year. According to the service’s 2011 posture statement, those upgrades include the bomber’s central integrated test system, fully integrated data link, and vertical situation display unit. Donley said the Air Force’s assessment is that this six-aircraft reduction would not create “an unreasonable burden on operational risk” to the B-1 fleet. (Air Force Fiscal 2012 posture statement; caution, large-sized file)
One Airman was killed and three others injured in a vehicle mishap at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., on June 29. Additionally, two first responder Airmen sustained injuries responding to the incident. All five injured Airmen have been transported to nearby medical facilities, according to a release from the base.