The B53 was intended to be retired in the 1980s, but 50 units remained in the active stockpile until the deployment of the B61-11 in 1997.
The B53 was intended to be retired in the 1980s, reducing the stockpile to 25 weapons by 1987. B53s remained in the active stockpile until the deployment of the B61-11 in 1997.