The US Air Force presented all three of its bombers flying together with four fighter aircraft for the first time during a public demonstration held in Florida. This unique event, named the “freedom formation,” featured bombers and fighters in a close formation over Miami as part of the Hyundai Air and Sea Show.
The Air Force Global Strike Command organized the dissimilar formation flight on May 24, 2024. A Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber led the formation. On either side of the B-2 were a Boeing B-1B Lancer and a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. This marked the first time the Air Force had flown all three bombers together with different types of fighters in one formation.
Supporting the bomber lineup were four fighter aircraft. A Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, Boeing F-15C Eagle, Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon, and a Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft flanked the bombers. The Pentagon noted, “Each aircraft played a unique role in demonstrating the comprehensive reach of the US Air Force, from legacy bombers to cutting-edge fifth-generation fighters.”
The flyover aimed to show the Air Force’s ability to operate across various platforms and demonstrate force across any region. “The event underscored the air force’s capability to project force anywhere, any time,” the Pentagon added.
The dissimilar formation repeated the following day, May 25, 2024, over Miami Beach, giving more spectators a view of the rare flight.
US Air Force bomber fleet changing in the coming years
This formation included two bombers that will soon retire from service. The Air Force plans to remove the B-2 Spirit and B-1B Lancer from operations in the future. According to Air Force officials, 18 B-2s and 45 B-1Bs will eventually leave the fleet.
They will be replaced by the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider, now undergoing flight testing. This future stealth bomber shares the flying-wing design of the B-2 but features upgraded technologies for reduced detection. Air Force officials expect to deploy at least 100 of these new aircraft.
The B-52 Stratofortress, which first flew during the Vietnam era, will stay in service and receive several upgrades in the next decade. The fleet of 76 B-52H bombers will get modern systems, including a new active electronically scanned array radar and new engines. The current Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines will be swapped for Rolls-Royce F130 engines, a military version of the BR725 commercial engine. After the upgrades, the aircraft will carry the B-52J designation.
The average age of the B-52 fleet is already 63 years, based on data from Cirium, an aviation analytics firm. These bombers are still expected to operate for many more decades.
The recent formation flights over Miami offered a rare view of the Air Force’s full range of bomber capabilities along with fighter support. This event served to demonstrate the ongoing modernization of bomber aircraft and the continuing development of airpower strategy across various platforms. The Air Force used this occasion to show its current abilities while preparing for changes to its fleet in the years ahead.
