Dusty Johnson: “The B-1 remains the backbone of our nation's bomber fleet by providing our military with a reliable, long-range bomber…”

“The B-1 remains the backbone of our nation's bomber fleet by providing our military with a reliable, long-range bomber capable of delivering a large amount of munitions to targets thousands of miles away. Nowhere was the continued importance of the B-1 more clear than over the skies of Afghanistan during the major battles of Operation Enduring Freedom. Since October, B-1s have dropped more than 38 percent of the bombs in Operation Enduring Freedom while maintaining over a 78 percent mission capable rate. I am particularly proud of the accomplishments of the B-1 because a portion of the fleet is stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in my home state. On many occasions, I have had the opportunity to meet with the men and women who fly and maintain these planes, and each time I am struck by their dedication and professionalism. In order to maintain the integral role the B-1 plays in our national security, the Department of Defense has committed to reinvest the savings from the consolidation of the fleet into the modernization of the remaining aircraft.”