Battle looms over Pentagon plan to cut B-52 bomber force

Published: Feb 24, 2006
Source: www.govexec.com



Congress is preparing to wage a high-stakes battle with the Pentagon over plans to cut 40 percent of the Air Force's venerable B-52 bomber fleet to make room in the service's constrained budget for higher priority programs.

With the Air Force is expected to make sweeping manpower and aircraft cuts over the next several years as part of a broader Defense Department effort to cut spending, this year's fight may prove more challenging than ever for the bomber's fiercely loyal supporters.

"It was the only way we could balance the books for the budget in the future," said retired Gen. John Loh, a former commander of Air Combat Command. With a single line in its recently released Quadrennial Defense Review, the Pentagon revealed its intent to reduce the fleet from 94 B-52 H-model planes to 56.continue..