The U.S. Air Force has completed the environmental assessment and legal review, officially paving the way for the temporary relocation of 17 B-1B Lancer bombers and 800 Airmen from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, to Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota.
The Air Force said in a release that the relocation, set to begin in December 2024, will last for approximately ten months to allow for runway construction at Ellsworth in preparation for the arrival of the next-generation B-21 Raider bomber.
The B-1B aircraft, assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth, will continue supporting home station missions from Grand Forks during the relocation period. Ellsworth is slated to be the first base to receive the B-21 Raider, and this construction project is a key part of ensuring the base is ready. Col. Derek Oakley, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, said, “The runway construction at Ellsworth is a key milestone in ensuring we’re ready to receive the B-21 Raider. This project illustrates the U.S. Air Force’s commitment to our nation’s newest long-range strike bomber and to the surrounding community.”
Residents near Ellsworth Air Force Base will experience increased construction traffic, while those around Grand Forks AFB should expect a rise in military vehicle freight and aircraft noise as the relocation progresses into winter. The first B-1B bomber is expected to arrive in December 2024 and will help prepare maintenance operations ahead of the full fleet’s arrival early next year. Day-to-day inspections and repairs will be conducted at Grand Forks to ensure the aircraft remain flight-ready, while more intensive maintenance will continue to take place at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas.
Col. Tim Monroe, commander of the 319th Reconnaissance Wing at Grand Forks, highlighted the broader integration potential, stating, “There’s no doubt integrating the B-1 community into our Grand Forks Unmanned Aerial System ecosystem will pay dividends for everyone involved. This temporary relocation is the vanguard of Air Force integration, readiness, and agile combat employment, and epitomizes the mantra of One Team, One Fight.”
The 319th Reconnaissance Wing is responsible for operating the RQ-4B Global Hawk, an unmanned surveillance aircraft used for intelligence-gathering missions worldwide. The temporary addition of B-1Bs at Grand Forks will complement the base’s existing capabilities, while maintaining the Air Force’s readiness without compromising the operational status of the fleet.
Earlier this year, several of Ellsworth’s B-1Bs were relocated to Dyess Air Force Base, where they were tasked with strikes in Iraq and Syria against Iranian-backed militant groups. After the runway construction at Ellsworth is completed, the bombers and Airmen will return, with the B-21 Raider expected to arrive in the mid-2020s.
