The US Air Force's newest stealth bomber offers hope amid America's shrinking bomber fleet

• The US Air Force's bomber fleet is shrinking as decades-old aircraft face retirement or maintenance.
• The next-generation B-21 Raider offers hope, but budget cuts threaten its timely deployment.
• Ensuring the B-21 program stays on track is crucial to maintaining US deterrence capabilities.

The loss of a B-2 Spirit bomber due to fire and its subsequent retirement highlights the fragility of the US Air Force's bomber fleet.