WASHINGTON - The U.S. Air Force wants to increase the size of its bomber fleet by approximately 20 percent over the coming years, with a goal of growing from 143 aircraft today to 173 by 2037. The details were outlined in a new report, Annual Aviation Inventory and Funding Plan Summary Report: Fiscal Years 2023-2037. The report is dated October 2022 and was cleared for public release on March 29.
The larger bomber inventory will require between $11 billion and $13 billion per year to procure and sustain through FY35, according to the report. Funding drops to less than $7 billion by FY37, indicating the possible end of B-21 bomber production. The document suggests B-21 procurement could reach 10 aircraft per year.
