But the leader of Ellsworth Air Force Base's 28th Bomb Wing says although the war is causing "wear and tear" on the base's B-1B Lancers, it isn't causing them to wear down much faster than they normally would.  

"It's no secret we have an aging fleet here, just like the rest of our Air Force," Col. Jeffry Smith, Ellsworth's 28th Bomb Wing commander, said. "We are either deployed or training to deploy, and that always equates to wear and tear on airframes." 

Smith was questioned about the planes' condition in relation to a USA Today story, in which Gen. Ronald Keys, leader of the Air Combat Command, discussed problems such as cracked wings on A-10 attack planes and frayed cables on U-2 spy planes.

Smith was unavailable for an interview but issued a prepared statement and answered follow-up questions by e-mail.

The USA Today story did not mention B-1s in particular but did describe the Air Force fleet overall as aging and wearing down. 

When asked whether B-1s are wearing down faster than normal because of the current conflict, Smith answered "No."

He said the wear on planes is a combination of factors, including the war.

"What all of this boils down to is wear and tear on our jets due to a combination of training, combat operations and, of course, age," Smith said. 

The B-1s were developed in the 1970s and built in the mid-1980s.

The B-1s are still very capable of performing their missions - which have included numerous trips to Southwest Asia - in relation to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said.

"Our B-1s are still a very capable and very lethal airframe and have the capability to respond to threats anywhere in the world at any time," Smith said.

"It is the backbone of America's bomber force, and we carry more munitions of various types than any other aircraft."

When asked whether the B-1s need repair or replacement, Smith said Ellsworth's planes have routine problems that occur with use and age. 

"There is nothing wrong with our B-1s; however, it is a mechanical entity, and just like any other piece of complex machinery, parts wear with use and age," he said.

The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan also keeps mechanics busy, at home air bases and overseas. 

Senior Airman Juan Montoya, a jet engine mechanic, said between training and deployment, keeping the planes in the air can be a busy job.

"I'm not saying the plane breaks, but as much maintenance as it needs, as much as we fly them, especially now at the time of war and the aircraft being switched with the ones in southwest Asia, sometimes we'll work anywhere from 12 days straight to 23 days straight just to keep them in the air," he said. 

Senior Master Sgt. Frank Robertson oversees the 28th Bomb Wing Aircraft Maintenance Unit, which is composed of crew chiefs, jet engine mechanics, avionics specialists, hydraulic specialists and other members.

Robertson said the crews do well in keeping up a complicated plane.

"These guys do a great job," he said. "This is a pretty labor-intensive jet."

Smith agreed with Robertson.

He said the B-1 could be considered one of the more complicated planes to work with.

"This is a pretty tough aircraft to handle," he said.

Montoya said the 1970s and '80s technology used to build the planes sometimes makes maintaining them more difficult.

"The system, I guess you could say, is a little older," he said.

Smith said older technology is one of the reasons the B-1 Lancer is impressive in what it continues to do. He said the plane was originally developed for delivering nuclear weapons and to "penetrate Soviet radar at low altitudes at a high rate of speed."

The B-1 project was shelved, then brought back after the Cold War and was redesigned to carry conventional munitions, Smith said. "The key point here is to remember the B-1, through innovation of America's airmen, is now doing a mission it was never designed to do - such as delivery of conventional weapons and close air support for troops on the ground - and doing it extremely well," he said.

A time frame for updating the aging fleet has not been set, although Smith said the chief of staff has made " recapitalization and remodernization of our nation's aircraft" one of his priorities.

"The B-1 is going to be around for a long time," he said.

"While the chief of staff has said he desires a Next Generation Long Range Strike platform by 2018, there is nothing concrete that indicates Ellsworth's bombers are leaving."

Smith said he is proud of the way Ellsworth crews keep the jets in working condition.

"It's a standing testament to our professional men and women that are constantly striving to keep our jets in top conditions and ensure they're always mission capable," he said.

B-1 bombers, by the numbers

$283.1 million

Cost per aircraft

7,500

Miles it can fly before refueling

900 mph

Top speed-plus (Mach 1.2 at sea level)

146

Feet long

137

Foot wingspan with wings extended forward; 79 feet with wings swept aft

34

Feet high

Weapons specsThe B-1B's three weapons bays carry the biggest weapons payload in the Air Force. The weapons can include:

• 84 500-pound Mark 82 "dumb" bombs.
  
  



• 24 2,000-pound JDAM "smart bombs" that can glide to targets, guided by an onboard GPS.
  
  



• 12 JSOW cruise missiles.
  
  



• 24 JASSMs, a smaller cruise missle.
  
  



• 30 cluster-bomb cannisters.
  
  



• Various mines and other weapons.