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Cold War-era B-52 to outlive younger, sleeker rival Air Force bombers

By Jamie McIntyre
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Cold War-era B-52 to outlive younger, sleeker rival Air Force bombers

The Air Force on Monday revealed its long-range plan to eventually jettison its supersonic B-1 and stealthy B-2 bombers earlier than planned while keeping the venerable B-52, an aging Cold War workhorse that first flew in 1954 and was last built in 1962, flying into the 2050s.

The Air Force confirmed that it plans to send its two newer bombers into early retirement, but keep the B-52 in the inventory well past its 100th birthday.

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Air Force Budgets and Deficits Defense Spending Jamie McIntyre Nuclear Weapons