2037 bomber controversy
2037 bomber controversy
In 1999, the United States Air Force proposed the 2037 bomber plan: keep the current bombers in service longer and delay a replacement until 2037. Lawmakers and Pentagon officials criticized the idea, worried the fleet would become old and overstretched.
In 2001 the Air Force shifted course, aiming for an earlier replacement. A Next-Generation Bomber program planned a new bomber for 2018, but it was canceled in 2009. The program later became the Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B), which produced the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider. The B-21 is expected to enter service around 2026–2027.
Earlier, in 1998, a Congressional panel looked at restarting B-2 Spirit production but recommended ending B-2 production and using resources for upgrades or a future new aircraft.
The 1999 white paper on Long Range Bombers said a new “capability” would be needed by 2037. It noted that the B-1 would likely not meet 2018 needs due to attrition, the B-2 would fall short of fleet size by 2027, and the B-52 would be unable to meet requirements by 2044. Near-term needs could be met with extensions and technology upgrades, while the replacement could be a bomber or something else, depending on future tech. The plan called for studying the mission by 2013 and starting acquisition in 2019 to reach initial capability around 2037.
Over time, the Defense Department and the Air Force debated the timeline. The 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review warned that future threats could limit airspace access and emphasized stealth. The 2001 Nuclear Posture Review also looked at timelines and the possibility of interim regional bombers. In 2006 the DoD moved to bring the project forward again. The Next-Generation Bomber idea became the LRS-B and the B-21 Raider. Debates about a follow-on bomber after the B-21 continue, with some observers calling the entire 2037 bomber concept a lingering, contentious idea.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 15:27 (CET).