{"id":29228267,"date":"2026-10-23T10:15:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T08:15:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/b-21-air-to-air-role-bombers-fighter-force-report-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-10-23T10:16:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T08:16:03","slug":"b-21-air-to-air-role-bombers-fighter-force-report-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/es\/b-21-air-to-air-role-bombers-fighter-force-report-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"B-21 Air-to-Air Role: USAF Studies Bombers That Hunt Fighters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>.et_pb_title_container h1.entry-title { padding-top: 40px !important; }<\/style>\n\n\n\n<!-- mfsh:top -->\n\n<style>\n.mfsh-trigger{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;height:44px;padding:0 18px;margin:0 0 26px;border:2px solid 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The U.S. Air Force is now asking, in writing, whether they could do some of the hunting.<\/p><p>The service&rsquo;s long-term fighter force structure report, sent to Congress last week and first reported by Aviation Week on 21 October 2026, lists &ldquo;developing air-to-air capabilities on bombers&rdquo; as one of the options it is evaluating to rebuild a tired fighter fleet. The obvious candidate is the <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/b-21-raider\/\">B-21 Raider<\/a>, the stealth bomber now in flight test at Edwards.<\/p><p>The report gives no detail on how far that work has gone or which bombers are involved. But it is the first time a B-21 air-to-air role has appeared in an official Air Force planning document sent to lawmakers rather than in a general&rsquo;s musings at a conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#f4f6f9;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:18px 22px;margin:28px 0\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;font-weight:700;color:#0d1117;font-size:17px\">Quick Facts<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0;font-size:15px;color:#333\"><strong>Document:<\/strong> Unclassified long-term fighter force structure report to Congress<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0;font-size:15px;color:#333\"><strong>Reported:<\/strong> Aviation Week, 21 October 2026; The War Zone, 22 October 2026<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0;font-size:15px;color:#333\"><strong>Key line:<\/strong> The Air Force is evaluating &ldquo;developing air-to-air capabilities on bombers&rdquo;<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0;font-size:15px;color:#333\"><strong>Other options:<\/strong> A new &ldquo;capacity fighter&rdquo; and increased reliance on CCA drones<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0;font-size:15px;color:#333\"><strong>Fighter goal:<\/strong> 1,509 combat-coded fighters by 2035<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0;font-size:15px;color:#333\"><strong>Fleet age:<\/strong> Average fighter age above 31 years<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0;font-size:15px;color:#333\"><strong>Likely candidate:<\/strong> Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider (not named in the report)<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">What the fighter force report says about bombers<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>The report is mostly about fighters. Its headline goal, covered on Afterburner this week, is 1,509 combat-coded fighters by 2035, built around the F-35A, the F-15EX and the F-47. It warns of a &ldquo;persistent decline&rdquo; in aircraft availability across the tactical fleet, where the average jet is now more than 31 years old.<\/p><p>To close the gap, the <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-forces\/united-states-air-force\/\">United States Air Force<\/a> lists three recapitalisation options it is weighing: a new &ldquo;capacity fighter&rdquo;, which Aviation Week says most likely means the improved F-16 that Lockheed Martin is pitching; more reliance on Collaborative Combat Aircraft; and air-to-air capability on bombers. That last line is all the report says on the subject.<\/p><p>Lt. Gen. David Tabor, the deputy chief of staff for plans and programs, told reporters that CCAs would shape the future fighter plan and that a decision on the capacity fighter is not an &ldquo;urgent&rdquo; priority. He did not appear to address bombers, according to The War Zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/b-21-air-to-air-role-bombers-fighter-force-report-2026-img1.jpg\" alt=\"B-21 Raider refuelling from a KC-135 Stratotanker boom\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">A B-21 Raider takes fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker during flight testing. Long range and endurance are exactly what make the bomber interesting as a missile carrier. (U.S. Air Force photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">An idea the Air Force has never taken off the table<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>The concept is older than the jet. In 2019, then-Maj. Gen. Scott Pleus warned that calling the next-generation air dominance aircraft a &ldquo;fighter&rdquo; meant thinking too narrowly, and floated a B-21 with air-to-air capability as one alternative. In 2024, the then chief of staff was asked the same question by Defense News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7\"><div><em>&ldquo;We have not taken that off the table.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Gen. David Allvin<\/strong> &mdash; then U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff, asked in 2024 about a larger air-to-air role for the B-21<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In September 2025, Air &amp; Space Forces Magazine reported that the service was studying a large flying-wing stealth aircraft, possibly based on the B-21, armed with dozens of air-to-air missiles. Crewed stealth fighters such as the F-22, F-35 and F-47, and possibly CCAs, would find and designate the targets; the &ldquo;missileer&rdquo; would shoot. Air-to-air capability had been left out of the B-21&rsquo;s original requirements, partly because of cost and complexity.<\/p><p>The idea has its doubters. The same report quoted an official describing &ldquo;major pushback&rdquo; from Air Force Global Strike Command, which owns the bombers, and a former senior Air Force official who said CCAs made more sense for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 8px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NwDXgwQ54A4\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin:0 0 24px;font-style:italic\">Can the B-21 carry air-to-air missiles? Sandboxx looks at the case for an air-to-air Raider.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Why a bomber might make sense as a missile truck<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>The argument is about magazine depth. A fighter carries a handful of missiles; in a long war over the western Pacific, that runs out fast. One industry analyst told Air &amp; Space Forces Magazine that in Pacific wargames &ldquo;you run out of AMRAAMs in seven to nine days.&rdquo; A big, stealthy bomber with internal bays, long range and powerful sensors could stay on station far longer and fire the new generation of very long-range missiles, such as the Navy&rsquo;s AIM-174B and the AIM-260, now appearing on fighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7\"><div><em>&ldquo;Only bombers can bring the mass.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Mark Gunzinger<\/strong> &mdash; Director of Future Aerospace Concepts, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The War Zone also points to the B-52 as a possible &ldquo;arsenal ship&rdquo; for longer-range weapons, and to the B-21&rsquo;s potential to control CCA drones. None of that is in the report itself, and the Air Force has not explained how bombers would actually be used in the air-to-air fight. The War Zone reads the line as a hedge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/b-21-air-to-air-role-bombers-fighter-force-report-2026-img2.jpg\" alt=\"B-21 Raider seen head-on inside a hangar in front of a US flag\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">The B-21 Raider. How many the Air Force will buy is expected to be set out in the fiscal 2028 budget request. (U.S. Air Force photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">What happens next<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>The question of numbers will shape everything. A new figure for the size of the B-21 fleet is expected in the Air Force&rsquo;s fiscal 2028 budget proposal, The War Zone reports. Northrop Grumman was building about seven to eight B-21s a year in the 2020s, with Congress funding extra capacity.<\/p><p>Until then, the B-21 air-to-air idea remains exactly what the report calls it: an option under evaluation. It is no longer, however, just a thought experiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Sources: Aviation Week (21 Oct 2026), The War Zone (22 Oct 2026), Air &amp; Space Forces Magazine (Sept 2025), Defense News<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!-- mfsh:bottom -->\n\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-trigger mfsh-bottom\" data-mfsh-placement=\"bottom\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share this story<\/button>\n\n<!-- \/mfsh:bottom -->\n\n\n\n<style>.mfq{margin:34px 0 8px}.mfq h2{font:26px\/1.3 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117;padding-top:22px;margin:0 0 6px}.mfq .qa details{border-top:1px solid #5C91FF;margin:0;padding:0}.mfq .qa details:last-of-type{border-bottom:1px solid #e2e7ee}.mfq .qa summary{cursor:pointer;list-style:none;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:16px;padding:22px 26px;font:18px\/1.7 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117}.mfq .qa summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}.mfq .qa summary::after{content:\"+\";font:24px Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#3568e0;flex:0 0 auto}.mfq .qa details[open] summary::after{content:\"\\2013\"}.mfq .qa details:hover summary{color:#3568e0}.mfq .qa .a{font:16px\/1.7 \"Gilroy regular\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#454e5e;padding:0 26px 24px}.mfq .qa .a a{color:#3568e0}@media(max-width:680px){.mfq .qa summary{padding:18px 14px;font-size:17px}.mfq .qa .a{padding:0 14px 20px}}<\/style>\n\n\n<section class=\"mfq\"><h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2><div class=\"qa\"><details open><summary>Is the US Air Force planning an air-to-air role for the B-21 Raider?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The Air Force has not committed to it, but its long-term fighter force structure report to Congress, reported on 21 October 2026, lists developing air-to-air capabilities on bombers as an option it is evaluating. The report does not name the B-21, but the Raider is the obvious candidate.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Why would a bomber need air-to-air missiles?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The idea is magazine depth. Fighters carry only a few missiles, and wargames suggest stocks run out fast in a Pacific conflict. A large stealth bomber with internal bays, long range and strong sensors could carry many long-range missiles, with fighters or CCA drones finding the targets for it.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>What else does the Air Force fighter force report propose?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">It sets a goal of 1,509 combat-coded fighters by 2035, built around the F-35A, F-15EX and F-47. Besides air-to-air capable bombers, it evaluates a new capacity fighter, likely an improved F-16, and greater reliance on Collaborative Combat Aircraft.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Has the Air Force considered an air-to-air B-21 before?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Yes. In 2019 then-Maj. Gen. Scott Pleus floated a B-21 with air-to-air capability, and in 2024 then-Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said the idea had not been taken off the table. In 2025 the service was reported to be studying a flying-wing missile carrier possibly based on the B-21.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Who opposes the idea of an air-to-air B-21?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Air &amp; Space Forces Magazine reported major pushback from Air Force Global Strike Command, which operates the bombers, and quoted a former senior Air Force official who said Collaborative Combat Aircraft made more sense for now.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>How many B-21 Raiders will the Air Force buy?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The final number has not been set. A new B-21 fleet-size figure is expected in the Air Force fiscal 2028 budget proposal, according to The War Zone.<\/div><\/details><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is the US Air Force planning an air-to-air role for the B-21 Raider?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Air Force has not committed to it, but its long-term fighter force structure report to Congress, reported on 21 October 2026, lists developing air-to-air capabilities on bombers as an option it is evaluating. The report does not name the B-21, but the Raider is the obvious candidate.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why would a bomber need air-to-air missiles?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The idea is magazine depth. Fighters carry only a few missiles, and wargames suggest stocks run out fast in a Pacific conflict. 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In 2025 the service was reported to be studying a flying-wing missile carrier possibly based on the B-21.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Who opposes the idea of an air-to-air B-21?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Air & Space Forces Magazine reported major pushback from Air Force Global Strike Command, which operates the bombers, and quoted a former senior Air Force official who said Collaborative Combat Aircraft made more sense for now.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How many B-21 Raiders will the Air Force buy?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The final number has not been set. A new B-21 fleet-size figure is expected in the Air Force fiscal 2028 budget proposal, according to The War Zone.\"}}]}<\/script><div style=\"background:#f0f4ff;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:16px 20px;margin:32px 0 8px\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:600;color:#333\">Related Posts<\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/usaf-fighter-fleet-1509-combat-coded-fighters-2035\/\">USAF Fighter Fleet: Air Force Wants 1,509 Combat Jets by 2035<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/b-21-raider-wingspan-152-feet-satellite-image-2026\/\">B-21 Raider Wingspan Measured at About 152 Feet From Satellite Image<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/aim-174b-and-aim-260-super-hornet-vx-31-2026\/\">AIM-174B and AIM-260 Seen Together on a Navy Super Hornet<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/the-air-force-wants-a-1000-mile-missile-and-it-changes-everything\/\">The Air Force Wants a 1,000-Mile Missile \u2014 and It Changes Everything<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Share this story Bombers are supposed to be the ones being hunted. The U.S. Air Force is now asking, in writing, whether they could do some of the hunting. The service&rsquo;s long-term fighter force structure report, sent to Congress last week and first reported by Aviation Week on 21 October 2026, lists &ldquo;developing air-to-air capabilities [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":29228240,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[664,670],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29228267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-military-aviation","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>B-21 Air-to-Air Role: USAF Studies Bomber Missileers | MiGFlug<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A B-21 air-to-air role is on the table: the USAF fighter force report to Congress lists air-to-air capability on bombers as a recapitalisation 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