John Thune

Posted: July 19th 2009

KTIV Reports:

Sen. John Thune says he is working to make sure the new defense budget includes money to continue development of a new long-range bomber.

The Republican senator from South Dakota says the next generation bomber must be developed because half the nation's current bomber fleet is nearly 50 years old.

Thune says the bill being considered by the Senate also includes $250 million to upgrade the existing fleet of B-1 bombers, including those stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City. The defense spending bill also contains money to build a new deployment facility at the air base and to make improvements at National Guard facilities.