Eli5 why does the US still use a bomber from the 1950s when they have built two newer ones since then?

Question

Eli5 why does the US still use a bomber from the 1950s when they have built two newer ones since then?

In: 7

Answer 1

The basic airframe still works. The equipment and engines can be upgraded over time considerably cheaper than designing and building a brand new aircraft, so that’s what they do. Bombers nowadays have advanced equipment and radar and carry advanced weapons with new engines and it’s really just the airframe that holds it all together that’s old, but it’s reliable and we have multiple generations of people that know how to service them.