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Today's Bomber Fleet

The Air Force’s current bomber fleet consists of the three planes shown here— the B-52, B-1B and B-2. More than half are aging B-52s, some as old as 50. All three have a greater range and payload than is planned for the 2018 bomber, but the new bomber is expected to be stealthier and more combat-capable.

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B-52
A.P. Photo/U.S. Air Force
The B-52 is the old workhorse of the U.S. bomber fleet, with an average age of more than 45 years. It can carry a wider range of weapons, and loiter longer without refueling, than any other bomber. The B-52 has more than four times the range of the 2018 bomber.
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Military, Aviation & Space
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B-1B
Getty Images
The supersonic B-1B was designed as a low-altitude, high-speed bomber. Its speed makes it less vulnerable to attack than the comparatively clunky B-52, but it’s not as stealthy as the B-2. The B-1B flies faster than the 2018 bomber and carries only non-nuclear weapons.
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Military, Aviation & Space
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