{"id":2686,"date":"2024-11-02T22:05:04","date_gmt":"2024-11-02T22:05:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=2686"},"modified":"2024-11-02T22:05:04","modified_gmt":"2024-11-02T22:05:04","slug":"rockwell-b-1b-lancer-heavy-bomber","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=2686","title":{"rendered":"Rockwell B-1B Lancer Heavy Bomber"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Will Dabbs, MD<\/a><\/p>\n

I<\/span>n the aftermath of 9\/11, Uncle Sam unlimbered most everything he had. Tanks, warplanes, helicopters, fighting ships and countless thousands of combat troops all deployed to the Middle East with the express mandate to kill terrorists. The end result was a decades-long fight that continues to this day.<\/p>\n

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A B-1B Lancer assigned to 7th Operations Group at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, departs for a training mission in 2010. Image:\u00a0Airman 1st Class Brett Clashman\/U.S. Air Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Coalition troops dug Taliban, al-Qaeda and ISIS fighters out of their holes and caves by any means necessary. Sometimes, that meant going in on foot in the dark with night vision systems and small arms. However, the universally preferred technique was to just blow the living bejeebers out of these maniacs via overwhelming airpower.<\/p>\n

\"B-1B\n<\/picture>
A two-ship formation of B-1B Lancers fly in formation over New Mexico during a training mission Feb. 24, 2010. Image:\u00a0Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald\/U.S. Air Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

AC-130 gunships<\/a>, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters<\/a> and strike fighters like the F\/A-18 Hornet<\/a>, F-15E Strike Eagle, and F-16 Viper<\/a> contributed to the chaos. Throughout it all, however, the most desirable close air support platform was not really designed for close air support at all. The B-1B strategic bomber was originally crafted for deep penetration nuclear attacks into the heart of Russia. However, when loaded to the gills with JDAMs GPS-guided bombs, the B-1\u2019s massive payload and lyrically long loiter time made it a grunt\u2019s dream. In military parlance, the B-1 is universally referred to as the \u201cBone.\u201d That\u2019s an obvious contraction of the designation, \u201cB-One.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"pair\n<\/picture>
B-1B Lancers release chaff and flares while maneuvering during a training mission in 2010. Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald\/U.S. Air Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Origin Story<\/h2>\n

The Rockwell B-1 Lancer was first imagined in the 1960\u2019s as a strategic deep penetration nuclear attack platform. Sporting variable-geometry wings and four powerful turbofan engines, the original B-1A was intentionally fast. At high altitudes, this plane could cruise at Mach 2.2. The original plan was for the B-1A to replace both the B-58 Hustler<\/a> and the B-52 Stratofortress<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"B-1B\n<\/picture>
A rear view of a B-1B aircraft in final stages of construction during October 18, 1985. Image:\u00a0Staff Sgt. T.L. Viada\/U.S. Air Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The B-1A did what it was supposed to do, but it was also insanely expensive. With the advent of the AGM-86 cruise missile and with inflation gutting the U.S. economy, the B-1A program was canceled in 1977 during the Carter administration. The B-52 was a time-proven platform, and the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber<\/a> was looming on the horizon. It seemed that the B-1A was superfluous.<\/p>\n

\"Rockwell\n<\/picture>
An air-to-air left side view of a B-1B Lancer bomber with a General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark attack aircraft following behind. Image:\u00a0Tech Sgt. William B. Belcher\/U.S. Air Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Like all radically advanced military technology, the stealth tech driving the B-2 proceeded by fits and starts. In the early 1980\u2019s, Ronald Reagan wisely decided to spend the Warsaw Pact into submission. With the B-2 seeming to be farther and farther away, the Air Force resurrected the Lancer as the B-1B. This redesigned monster turned out to be a simply magnificent bomb truck.<\/p>\n

\"United\n<\/picture>
At Luke Air Force Base, an Air Force security policeman stands guard near a B-1B aircraft as maintenance technicians check over the aircraft. Image:\u00a0Airman First Class Robert Person\/U.S. Air Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The new B-1B was markedly slower than its predecessor, with a top speed of around Mach 1.25 at altitude. The redesigned airframe was optimized for low-level penetration missions and upgraded to carry more fuel and weapons. With a bomb payload of 75,000 pounds, the B-1B actually packed more raw firepower than either the B-52 or the B-2 stealth bomber. An even 100 of the big bombers were delivered by 1988.<\/p>\n

Changing Times<\/h2>\n

The B-1B\u2019s maximum takeoff weight is a whopping 477,000 pounds. The plane\u2019s blended wing body airframe is both graceful and menacing. Serpentine air intakes and fixed intake ramps decrease the plane\u2019s radar cross-section at the expense of speed. Vanes incorporated into the B-1B intake ducts deflect radar returns from the massive engine compressor blades.<\/p>\n

\"Lt\n<\/picture>
Lt. Col. Kristen Jenkins, 28th Bomb Squadron commander, performs preflight duties in a B-1B Lancer prior to a training mission. Image:\u00a0Senior Airman Reilly McGuire\/U.S. Air Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The end result is an airplane that is much stealthier than was its predecessor. The B-1B\u2019s radar cross section is roughly one-fiftieth that of the B-52. That makes the Bone the equivalent on radar to a single-seat fighter plane.<\/p>\n

\"B-1B\n<\/picture>
A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 9th Bomb Squadron takes off from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. Image:\u00a0Airman River Bruce\/U.S. Air Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The basic GE F101-102 engines used in the B-1B are well-proven. This same basic powerplant core drove the F-14 Tomcat<\/a> as well as later versions of the F-16. This engine also served as the foundation for the non-afterburning GE F118 used on the B-2 Spirit.<\/p>\n

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The B-1B has been continuously upgraded since its introduction. Eventually, the Bone was retired from its strategic nuclear responsibilities and devoted solely to conventional ground attack. The wiring harnesses, fusing and support structure required to manage nuclear weapons were all removed under the observation of the Russians as part of strategic arms limitation agreements. As a result, the latest versions of the B-1B can carry lots and lots of conventional guided bombs.<\/p>\n

\"JDAM\n<\/picture>
A BLU-109 2,000-pound bomb with a Joint Direct Attack Munition attachment is loaded into a B-1 Lancer bomber during Operation Enduring Freedom. Image:\u00a0Staff Sgt. Shane Cuomo\/U.S. Air Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The latest upgrades will also allow the B-1B to carry as many as 31 AGM-183 ARRW hypersonic missiles. By combining both internal stores and external hardpoints, the B-1B remains the world\u2019s premiere high-volume munitions dispenser. The airplane\u2019s breathtaking range that was originally supposed to allow it to punch deep into defended Soviet airspace equates out to inimitable loiter times for troops in contact.<\/p>\n

Combat Stats<\/h2>\n

The numbers tell an amazing story. In the first six months of Operation Enduring Freedom, eight dedicated B-1B bombers dropped 40% of the aerial ordnance delivered throughout the theater. That included an extraordinary 3,900 JDAM bombs. Despite such a grueling op-tempo, the Bone maintained a 79% mission capable rate.<\/p>\n

\"B-1B\n<\/picture>
A B-1B Lancer pilot writes a message on a BLU-109 2,000 pound bomb prior to a November 2001 mission against al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Image:\u00a0Staff Sgt. Shane Cuomo\/U.S. Air Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Incorporation of the Common Strategic Rotary Launcher allows the B-1B to carry 48 JDAMs. If you\u2019re not overly particular about collateral damage, the Bone will pack 84 Mk 62 500-pound dumb bombs or 24 of the Mk84 2,000-pound sort. I have actually seen a B-1B drop a full load of 84 Mk62 gravity bombs in sequence. Trust me, that\u2019s enough to make a guy get religion.<\/p>\n

Ruminations<\/h2>\n

I have a buddy who flew B-1Bs operationally. When I asked him to describe the experience, he used the term \u201craw power.\u201d I also have friends who found themselves in desperate need of a little close air support when operating downrange in Afghanistan. Having that enormous plane burning lazy circles in the sky for hours on end with four dozen guided JDAMs on tap will make you proud to be an American.<\/p>\n

\"Rockwell\n<\/picture>
On Christmas day of 1997, a U.S. Air Force B-1 Lancer flies by the aircraft carrier USS\u00a0Nimitz<\/em>\u00a0(CVN 68) in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. Image:\u00a0PH2 Christopher G. Ware\/U.S. Navy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of the original 100 operational B-1B bombers, seven were lost to accidents. In 2001, one-third of the fleet was placed in storage to free up money to upgrade the remaining planes. Since then, seven of those retired planes have been pulled out, dusted off, and reactivated. The current operational fleet consists of 67 aircraft. Current USAF plans are to keep the old Bone going through 2038. The B-1B currently costs $63,000 per flight hour to operate. Compare that with $72,000 for the B-52 and $135,000 for the B-2 Spirit.<\/p>\n

\"B-1B\n<\/picture>
During February 2011, a B-1B Lancer flies above Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn. Image:\u00a0Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz\/U.S. Air Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Bone represents the creative application of some fairly antiquated tactical dogma. What began as a strategic nuclear bomber eventually evolved into a beloved close air support aircraft. Despite the B-1B\u2019s size and expense, it has been a serious combat multiplier on the battlefield.<\/p>\n

\"B-1B\n<\/picture>
A B-1B Lancer sits on the flight line while receiving a post-flight inspection at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. Image:\u00a0Airman First Class Joshua Seybert\/U.S. Air Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 2014 while engaged against the Islamic State in Syria, B-1B\u2019s in theater delivered 3,800 individual munitions to include some 2,000 JDAMs. For a total of 31 times during their six-month deployment, B-1B\u2019s from the 9th<\/sup>\u00a0Bomb Squadron returned to base after going \u201cWinchester\u201d \u2014 expending all of their ordnance against hostile targets. That\u2019s the reason Uncle Sam invests in these breathtakingly expensive machines in the first place.<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in!<\/em><\/p>\n

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By Will Dabbs, MD In the aftermath of 9\/11, Uncle Sam unlimbered most everything he had. Tanks, warplanes, helicopters, fighting ships and countless thousands of combat troops all deployed to the Middle East with the express mandate to kill terrorists. The end result was a decades-long fight that continues to this day. A B-1B Lancer […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2687,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2686","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2686","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2686"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2686\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2686"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2686"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}