Want 80-100, get 8-10, if not canceled outright due to needing money for entitlements, feeding the homeless, and just plain more free stuff.
“Want 80-100, get 8-10, if not canceled outright due to needing money for entitlements, feeding the homeless, and just plain more free stuff.”
And supporting 3rd world, American-hating immigrants as we implement our “strength through diversity” goals.
As of January 2013, 78 of the original 744 B-52 aircraft were operational in the U.S. Air Force. (All are B-52H models.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-52_Stratofortress
The USAF had 66 B-1Bs in service in September 2012, split between four squadrons organized into two Bomb Wings: the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess AFB, Texas, and the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockwell_B-1_Lancer#B-1B_program
A total of 20 B-2s remain in service with the United States Air Force, which plans to operate the B-2 until 2058.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit
78+66+20 = 164 strategic bombers of three different generations in service.
An 80-100 unit acquisition program represents a 48-60% replacement of the existing force.
If you just count B-52s and B-1Bs, the in service numbers drop to 144 and the replacement percentages go up to between 55-70%.
If we use the 14 aircraft per B-1B squadron as a nominal per squadron target, 80-100 aircraft equips 5-7 squadrons. To maintain operational capability equivalent to four B-1B squadrons, you can go as low as 66 aircraft. Strategic plans, the need for operational rotation of units, and maintenance/overhaul/rebuild planning establish the requirement for multiple squadrons. There also have to be a certain number of aircraft in storage and available for R&D purposes.
ASSUMING the B-52 component is just going to be retired without replacement and that the B-2 bomber capability replacement will be the subject of another program, the 80 aircraft purchase is probably the lower number needed to maintain USAF strategic bomber capability equivalent to the existing B-1B fleet.
The USAF, if it can keep acquisition costs contained, will probably get 80 aircraft. Anything above that will be a bonus.