aided by the newer aircraft from the shrinking air force inventory, the air national guard modernized and reshaped its fleet after the cold war. the size and composition of the ang's aircraft inventory changed significantly after 1991. from 1991 to 2001 the ang experienced an enormous growth in large aircraft including c-130h hercules tactical airlifters, upgraded kc-135e and kc-135r stratotankers, and b-1b lancer strategic bombers at the expense of smaller fighter planes. one of the most critical modernization challenges facing the ang involved its extensive fleet of older model f-16as and f-16bs. as its goal, the ang sought to acquire f-16c block 25/30/32 aircraft, enabling ang fighter units to have around-the-clock, all-weather, precision strike capabilities against surface targets. the first f-16as and f-16bs to be retired from service entered storage with amarc at davis-monthan afb during 1993, with three aircraft from the 138th fighter squadron of the new york air national guard, followed by 17 examples from the 160th fighter squadron of the alabama air national guard, which were updated with f-16cs and f-16ds from the shrinking active duty force.