WASHINGTON, April 21 (UPI) -- U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber fleets and the Long Range Strike Bomber program of the Air Combat Command are being realigned, the Air Force announced.

As of October 1, the two will be under the unified authority of the Air Force Global Strike Command, in charge of organizing, training and equipping crews of B-52 and B-2 bomber fleets.


"This realignment places all three ... bombers under one command and brings the LRS-B program with it," said Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James. "Consolidating all of our Air Force assets in this critical mission area under a single command will help provide a unified voice to maintain the high standards necessary in stewardship of our nation's bomber forces."

The Air Force said 63 aircraft and approximately 7,000 people will transfer from ACC to AFGSC under the realignment.

"With a single command responsible for the Air Force's entire long range strike fleet, the Airmen in AFGSC will benefit from better coordination and increased sharing of expertise across the five bomber wings," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. "Consolidating all conventional and nuclear-capable bombers within the same command allows the Air Force to streamline the global strike and strategic deterrence missions, and create a lasting positive impact for the Air Force's global strike capabilities."

The 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas and the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, will continue to serve as the host wings for the B-1s and provide installation support and services to other units on the bases, the Air Force said.