As Ellsworth Air Force Base prepares for the arrival of the cutting-edge B-21 Raiders, the US Air Force is set to relocate 17 B-1B Lancer bombers from South Dakota to Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota for 10 months starting early next year.
According to a spokesperson from Air Force Global Strike Command, this move is slated to occur from February to November 2025. The spokesperson provided this information to Air & Space Forces Magazine on August 19.
The decision to proceed with this relocation is contingent upon the outcome of an ongoing environmental assessment. This review is focused on determining the potential impacts of relocating both the aircraft and the accompanying personnel to Grand Forks.
Should the review conclude favorably, approximately 800 Airmen from Ellsworth will be deployed to Grand Forks to manage the bombers’ maintenance and support operations.
The B-1Bs will maintain their operational duties while stationed at Grand Forks, supporting key missions as required by the President and Secretary of Defense.
Senator John Hoeven indicated last week that the transfer of the 17 bombers is anticipated due to Ellsworth’s transition to accommodate the new B-21 Raider stealth bomber. He mentioned that while final confirmation is pending, the decision appears imminent based on the logistical considerations.
Colonel Tim Monroe, commander of the 319th Reconnaissance Wing at Grand Forks, also stated that the base is expected to be just weeks away from final approval for this move.
If approved, Airmen are anticipated to start arriving in January, with the B-1Bs scheduled to move from Ellsworth’s 28th Operations Group to Grand Forks in February.
The B-1Bs are expected to remain at Grand Forks until at least October as Ellsworth undergoes a comprehensive renovation of its runway to accommodate the new B-21 Raiders. Monroe noted that the base had been discreetly preparing for the bomber wing’s arrival.
Grand Forks Air Force Base previously hosted bomber aircraft until 1994, when the last B-1Bs from the former 319th Bomb Wing (now the 319th Reconnaissance Wing) departed.
The base served as a home for nuclear and conventionally armed bombers from its reassignment to Strategic Air Command in 1963 until the end of the Cold War in the 1990s.
However, the B-1Bs from Ellsworth do not carry nuclear weapons, and Grand Forks Air Force Base no longer can store nuclear arms. Colonel Monroe highlighted that the upcoming bomber deployment is intended to be a temporary measure.
Air Force Gears Up Fpr B-21 Raider’s Arrival
The proposal suggests that the Air Force’s plan to deploy the new B-21 Raider is advancing, with significant developments taking place at Ellsworth Air Force Base.
Ellsworth was officially selected in June 2021 as the main base of operations and training site for the Air Force’s new B-21 Raider bomber.
Since then, the US Air Force has been making the necessary modifications to Ellsworth Air Force Base in preparation for the arrival of this next-generation stealth bomber.
The construction of a new 95,000-square-foot Low Observable Restoration Facility began in 2022 to support the B-21.
The base is also building additional facilities, including a Weapons Generation Facility, a Radio Frequency Facility, a mission operation planning facility, a field training detachment facility, a formal training unit, two maintenance hangars, and a flight simulator facility.
Over 20 major facilities are set to be constructed or renovated before the B-21’s arrival, with these projects scheduled for completion between 2025 and 2026.
Lt. Gen. Andrew Gebara, deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration, recently confirmed that the B-21 is on track to arrive at Ellsworth “very soon.”
During an event with the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies on July 15, Gebara acknowledged that while the B-21 program is progressing well, it is still in the early stages of flight testing.
He expressed anticipation for the bomber’s arrival, envisioning it flying over Mount Rushmore as it prepared to land at Ellsworth.
In May, the Air Force and Northrop Grumman released new photos of the B-21, showcasing the bomber in flight at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
These images offered a glimpse into the highly secretive aircraft, which has been undergoing test flights since its initial debut in November at the manufacturer’s California facility. The Air Force has indicated that the B-21 will not necessarily replace the B-1 and B-2 bombers on a one-for-one basis.
While the new B-21s will gradually enter service, Global Strike Command has noted that maintaining four different types of bombers simultaneously may not be feasible.
The plan aims to eventually streamline the bomber fleet to include only B-21s and B-52Js following the retirement of the B-1s and B-2s.
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