Bombers are rising from the military cemetery! The U.S. Air Force is reactivating the B-1B Lancer bomber, tail number 86-0115 and nicknamed “Rage,” from storage to fill operational gaps. This is the second B-1B recently returned to service, underscoring the need to maintain a robust strategic bomber fleet.
Why do you do it? Because it will be years before the B-21 Raider enters service, the Air Force is investing in renewing older aircraft to meet the requirement for at least 92 active strategic bombers.
Old but powerful: Known for its enormous munitions capacity, the B-1B remains a critical component of the U.S. Air Force.
Strategic boost: B-1B Lancer bomber returns to the US Air Force fleet
The US Air Force is receiving a well-known aircraft. A retired B-1B Lancer strategic bomber is set to return to service soon to fill urgent operational gaps.
B-1B Lancer back from the “dead”
The B-1B Lancer, nicknamed “Rage” and bearing the tail number 86-0115, has been regenerated and will soon be operational again. This is the second B-1 Lancer bomber to return from the “dead” in recent months. In March, the Air Force already regenerated another strategic bomber to replace an aircraft that had caught fire.
“At the request of Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Force Materiel Command is in the process of refurbishing a B-1B to replace aircraft -0126, which underwent heavy structure repair development at Boeing-Palmdale,” an Air Force spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine.
The B-1 Lancer is a supersonic bomber and the aircraft in the entire US military that can carry the most munitions (75,000 pounds). Together with the B-52 Stratofortress and the B-2 Spirit, the B-1 Lancer forms America’s strategic bomber fleet.
By law, the Air Force must have an active strategic bomber fleet of at least 92 aircraft.
“The analysis found that regenerating an aircraft at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) warehouse could be accomplished more quickly, more cost-effectively and with less risk than continuing the Boeing repair project,” the Air Force spokesman added.
Like the B-2 Spirit, the B-1 Lancer is also about to be retired. The B-21 Raider strategic stealth bomber is set to replace both aircraft. However, they are still several years away from being retired, and that is the reason for investing in reviving old aircraft.
It is not uncommon for the Air Force or other air forces that operate aircraft to see old fighter jets, transport planes, helicopters or, as in this case, bombers disappear from oblivion.
The “Boneyard”
The famous “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona is home to about 4,000 aircraft of dozens of different types. The 309th AMARG, which is tasked with maintaining and preserving these aircraft, brings up to 100 aircraft of all types back to life each year. These aircraft are then used by the U.S. military, federal agencies or foreign military partners.
When an aircraft is retired to the boneyard, the 309th AMARG classifies it based on its condition and the wishes of the departing troops. After a thorough inspection, the aircraft is assigned to one of four categories.
First, there are Type 1000 aircraft that are stored for long-term purposes and kept intact for future use.
Secondly, there are Type 2000 aircraft that are kept but dismantled and used as spare parts for existing aircraft when needed.
Third, there are Type 3000 aircraft that are kept intact, with their engines running frequently and their systems maintained. These are the aircraft most likely to be returned to service.
Finally, there are Type 4000 aircraft that are sold to interested parties in their entirety or in parts.
About the author:
Stavros Atlamazoglou is an experienced defense journalist specializing in Special Operations and a veteran of the Greek Army (military service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army Headquarters). He holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, SandboxxAnd SOFREP.
All images are Creative Commons.
