US Air Force Scrambles to Keep Aging Bombers Flying Amid Spare Parts Crisis
The US Air Force is facing a crisis with its aging bomber fleet, prompting daily meetings to find spare parts for the B-52 and B-1 bombers.
The North Star Readiness Campaign aims to increase the number of combat-capable Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and Rockwell B-1 Lancer bombers by accelerating the delivery of parts that previously took a week or longer to arrive.
The campaign, launched in collaboration with Air Force Materiel Command and the Defense Logistics Agency, has already reduced mission-impacting part faults from over 450 to around 160 since its inception.
Lieutenant General Linda Hurry stated that the constant engagement with Global Strike leadership and joint logisticians has helped reinvigorate the supply chain, returning airframes to the fleet faster after depot maintenance.