Sens. Cornyn, Cruz write Air Force in support of basing B-21 bomber at Dyess

Larry Zelisko | Abilene

U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz sent a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson Friday, urging the Air Force to select Dyess Air Force Base as the principal base for the new B-21 Raider long-range strike bomber.

“For 76 years, Dyess AFB has effectively served as a premier bomber base for B-47s and B-52s, and has been the principal base for the B-1 since the aircraft’s introduction,” they wrote. “We sincerely hope that the B-21 Raider will be the next member of the bomber family to join our community.”

The Air Force announced in May it wanted to replace B-1 Lancers at Dyess and Ellsworth AFBs and B-2 Spirit aircraft at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, with the B-21 Raider.

A final decision on housing the bombers will be made in 2019.

The National Defense Authorization Act, signed by the president Monday, authorized $2.3 billion to develop the new long-range bomber.

Using the current bomber bases will minimize operational impact, reduce overhead, maximize re-use of facilities and minimize cost, Air Force officials said in a news release in May.

More: Dyess one of three sites where Air Force wants to base B-21 bombers

"Our current bomber bases are best suited for the B-21," Wilson was quoted as saying in the release. "We expect the first B-21 Raider aircraft to be delivered in the mid-2020s."