Encouraged by the B-1B bomber's strong showing in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Boeing program's backers plan to push for returning 12 retired bombers to operational status and to seek funds for new upgrades for the fleet.

"I'll be optimistic and say that [the B-1B's war record] is going to basically improve the B-1's long-term upgrade plan," Rich Parke, Boeing's director of advanced programs business development, said May 6.

An urgent question is whether to readjust the size of the B-1B fleet, Parke said. In 2001, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld ordered the U.S. Air Force to retire 33 B-1Bs and divert some of the maintenance savings to pay for new upgrades, such as integrating the Lockheed Martin Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range.

Flush with new operating data, Air Force and Boeing officials again plan to argue that the 60-bomber fleet is not enough. Air Force officials "would like another dozen" B-1Bs brought out of retirement, Parke said, adding that Boeing agrees with the service's estimate.