The next generation bomber funding hasn't been restored to the federal defense budget but a new, technologically advanced bomber could be in the works - and Ellsworth Air Force Base could still be in the running to host the fleet.

The battle to restore funding to the next generation bomber had barely gotten under way before it was put on hold last week.

For the sake of the military troops and for the state of South Dakota, we're glad to see a next generation bomber fleet hasn't been taken completely off the administration's radar.

In April, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced the next generation bomber wouldn't be part of the administration's defense budget. South Dakota's Sen. John Thune was quick to respond and pledged to seek funding for the program.

For our state, the development of a bomber means Ellsworth Air Force Base would have a 50/50 chance of hosting the fleet and remaining a significant part of the state's economy.

More importantly, though, is the fact that current B-1 bomber currently hosted at Ellsworth is aging. The fleet is about 20 years old now; imagine expecting as much from a 20-year pickup truck as the military does from the B-1. It will be increasingly difficult for the military to support expanding operations in Afghanistan and Iraq (and wherever the U.S. will be in the next decade) with its aging fleet of B-1s.

Like we said, the bomber hasn't been put on the shelf. Gates said Thursday an unmanned bomber fleet was being considered rather than the next generation bomber that had been removed from the defense budget.

"I took away from that that he kind of acknowledged that this is something we've got to do," Thune said after the meeting Thursday. "He just said in its current form we've canceled it, but we also know that we're going to have to have this capability."

For now, Gates said the bomber program would be studied in the next Quadrennial Defense Review and the Nuclear Posture Review during the course of the next year.

You can bet South Dakota will be watching.

South Dakota, and Ellsworth Air Force Base, shouldn't expect the next generation bomber to be something its next generation can look forward to. Considering the less than clear defense budget and competition to host the bomber fleet, it would be wise for Rapid City and the state to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.