Tinker Air Force Base to be home for maintenance of new stealth bomber

U.S. Air Force officials have selected Tinker Air Force Base to provide maintenance for the B-21 Raider once the bomber comes online in the mid 2020s, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson announced Friday.

The long-range stealth bomber is intended to replace the Air Force's aging B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers. Officials don't expect to retire the existing bombers until the Air Force has enough B-21s to replace them.

During a Friday news conference, Wilson said Tinker's experience maintaining large aircraft made the base a good fit for the mission.

The base's Air Force Sustainment Center provides maintenance for a wide range of aircraft, including the B-1. The center has also been designated as the maintenance site for the KC-46A Pegasus once the tanker begins flying.