An artist's rendering of a B-21 Raider at Ellsworth Air Force Base.
CREDIT: Air Force
The Air Force is one step closer to making South Dakota’s Ellsworth Air Force Base the first home of a new stealth bomber.
The B-21 is under development and scheduled to start flying sometime this decade.
A recently published environmental impact statement affirms Ellsworth as the preferred location for the first operational planes.
U.S. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said that's good news.
“Now all we have to wait for is the final record of decision,” Thune said. “But we think the base is extremely well positioned for the B-21 mission and are encouraged by the findings in the EIS and the conclusions that were drawn there.”
Thune expects a final decision this spring or summer.
The B-21s will gradually replace the existing B-1 bombers at Ellsworth, some of which are already being decommissioned. A home base for the new generation of stealth planes could add 3,000 people to the area.
The base received more good news recently when South Dakota lawmakers approved $3.2 million to help build a fitness and recreation center near the base in Box Elder.
-Contact reporter Seth Tupper by email.