They are mothballed as you say and can be reactivated. They have occasionally been seen in recent years over the Nellis Range. Their retirement was brought forward to free up funds to buy more F-22 Raptors. Even the USAF has a tight budget now days. Modern computer aided designs can produce a stealth profile and skin without the need for asymmetric airframes, reducing the cost and time of maintenance.\ said:Or did do it's job Patrick as I believe all them have now been placed in storage in boxes in a hangar. From what I can gather this is to stop the technology sed from falling in to unwanted hands.
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