US Plans to Retire B-52s, C-21s, F-117 & U-2 for more F-22s

DefenseTech notes that a draft plan from the US Air Force plan ("program budget decision 720") intends to retire the USA's 33 U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, its 55 F-117 stealth fighters, 38 of its 76 C-21 Learjets, and about 40% of its B-52 bomber fleet between FY 2007-2011, in order to free up around $2.6 billion for the purchase of more F-22 Raptor fighters. The EB-52 SOJ [stand-off jammer] aircraft project would also be cancelled.

The most controversial aspect to this aircraft retirement plan is likely to be the cut of 38 B-52H Stratofortress bombers. Program Budget Decision 720 would apparently reduce the B-52 fleet from 94 to 56 aircraft, and kill the EB-52 SOJ [stand-off jammer] derivative that would have added long-range, persistent jamming capability to US forces.

The C-21 Learjets are unlikely to be hugely missed, though some have been performing light resupply runs and medical missions to front line bases. It will be interesting to see whether these missions stop if and when the fleet is cut, or VIP transport billets become more scarce instead.

The USA's 55 F-117A Nighthawks, aka. "Wobblin' Goblin" stealth attack planes, would be withdrawn from service before their original date of 2018. They would be replaced by far more capable F-22 stealth aircraft currently in inventory, which would combine attack (via the Small Diameter Bomb) and self-escort capability.

Candidly, the F-117 was a wonder weapon in its day, but the F-22/SDB combination more than replaces it. Meanwhile, the J-UCAS UAV program (UPDATE: if it isn't cancelled, too) offers an unmaned alternative that could closely approximate the Nighthawk's capabilities for less money by 2011. Even so, this proposed move to cut the F-117 already faces some opposition from Congress.

The famous U-2 Dragon Lady ultra-high altitude reconnaissance plane is increasingly being supplanted by unmanned platforms like the RQ-4B Global Hawk UAV, which recently flew with new SIGINT/ELINT sensors and continues to upgrade its capabilities. Meanwhile, the F-22 brings formidable intelligence and data-sharing capabilities of its own to the table.

Intense nostalgia is a more likely reaction to the U-2's demise than ferocious opposition.

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