RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Air Force has plans to temporarily relocate 17 B-1 Bombers from Ellsworth to Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota.
The temporary move would last 10 months, starting in February of next year, allowing Ellsworth to renovate its runway as they prepare for the arrival of the B-21 Raiders.
After Ellsworth was chosen as the initial operating base and training unit for the B-21′s, the base started construction on a new 95,000-square-foot Low Observable Restoration Facility in 2022.
According to Air and Space Forces, the final decision to relocate the B-1′s will depend on the results of an ongoing environmental evaluation.
If the final decision is made to relocate the B-1 lancers, Ellsworth plans to send about 800 Airmen to Grand Forks to maintain the bomber operations.
