The B-1B Lancer Bomber Was ‘Stripped’ of Its Most Important Mission

Key Factors and Abstract: The B-1B Lancer has reworked considerably since its Chilly Conflict inception. Initially constructed as a nuclear-capable bomber to penetrate Soviet defenses at supersonic speeds, it was transformed solely to traditional missions after nuclear treaty obligations.

Key Level #1 – Now recognized for its giant payload and versatile capabilities, the B-1B carries precision-guided munitions, together with JDAMs and long-range anti-ship missiles like LRASM. Regardless of costly upkeep prices and non-stealth design, the Lancer continues to be strategically precious, just lately deploying to Guam amid Indo-Pacific tensions.

Key Level #2 – Finally, the B-1B will retire because the stealthy B-21 Raider enters service, however till then, it stays vital to American airpower projection.

How the B-1B Lancer Bomber Grew to become America’s Non-Nuclear Powerhouse

The B-1B Lancer has been by a number of modifications throughout its lifetime. Immediately, she is a part of the triad of long-range bombers within the US Air Power’s fleet. Along with the B-51 Buff and the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, they nonetheless pack a mighty punch towards America’s enemies.

However the B-1B and B-2 are slated for the boneyard—ultimately.

The B-21 Raider was formally unveiled in December 2022 and is presently in low-rate preliminary manufacturing (LRIP) after making its maiden flight final November. US Air Power officers say the B-21 Raider is a “twin nuclear and conventionally succesful, stealth, penetrating, long-range strike platform.” The B-21 will change the ageing B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit within the coming decade.

The B-21 Raider is called after the Doolittle Raiders of World Conflict II, an Military land bomber squadron that took off from an plane service and bombed Japan throughout the darkest days of WWII. 

Nonetheless, till the B-21 Raiders are prepared, the Air Power’s triad will proceed, and though the Lancer isn’t a stealth bomber, it nonetheless packs an unimaginable punch. The US just lately despatched a small fleet of B-1Bs to Guam as a deterrent. However first, let’s take a look at the journey of the B-1B and the way she retains evolving. 

B-1B Lancer’s Mission Historical past

The B-1 bomber was formally named the Lancer, however pilots name it the “Bone,” taken from the spelling B-One. It was first developed within the Seventies as a supersonic alternative for the B-52 Stratofortress. 

Her mission was to penetrate Soviet airspace, flying low and quick and, when approaching a nuclear weapon goal, pop as much as an applicable altitude, ship her atomic bombs, after which drop her altitude utilizing her pace to get away. 

The unique design may fly at Mach 2.2 (1,688 mph) speeds. Nonetheless, President Carter minimize this system in 1977 attributable to its excessive value, the introduction of the AGM-86 cruise missile that flew the identical important pace and distance, and the event of the B-2 stealth bomber.

Carter stated, “The B-1 bomber is an instance of a proposed system which shouldn’t be funded and would waste taxpayers’ {dollars}.”

Nonetheless, President Reagan confronted the identical dilemma as Carter: Ought to we develop the B-1 for the brief time period or look ahead to the B-2 stealth bomber? He determined to develop each applications.

Reagan restarted this system in 1981 and made some modifications. The payload was elevated to 74,000 kilos, an improved radar and discount of the radar cross-section, and the inlets have been decreased in measurement, which lowered the highest pace to Mach 1.2 (920 mph).

The primary B-1B bomber, “The Star of Abilene,” was delivered in 1985. By 1988, all 100 orders had been delivered, and manufacturing had stopped. The US had a bomber pressure that would penetrate Soviet airspace and take out targets contained in the Soviet Union in a nuclear confrontation. 

Nuclear Treaty Clips The Lancer’s Wings

Across the time of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the signing of the START nuclear arms treaty with Russia, President George H.W. Bush ordered a $3 billion refit in order that the B-1B eradicated the flexibility to hold nuclear weapons. 

The B-1 Lancer was now solely a traditional bomber. Nonetheless, early use of the 40 standard bomb-carrying variants had points with engine fires. Subsequently, the B-1Bs remained out of Desert Storm, and the B-52s have been used as an alternative. 

The Evolution of the B-1B Lancer

Colonel Joseph Kramer, then-Seventh Bomb Wing commander at Dyess AFB, Texas, in an interview with the service’s media, defined the 5 historic phases of the B-1’s tactical function. “It was initially designed to hold nuclear weapons. It might method its goal at a low stage, then pop as much as a chosen altitude and drop its payload. Its stealth and pace could be a significant factor utilizing this tactic.”

“Its second part could be the standard tactic of dropping standard bombs (dumb bombs) that weren’t very exact.”

“In its third part, the B-1 employed 2,000 pound guided bombs that landed inside 10’s of toes of its goal.”

“In its fourth part, which was very efficient within the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) space of operations, the B-1 carried a sophisticated focusing on pod that permitted it to loiter overhead and strike particular person automobiles with precision.”

“In its fifth and present part of operations, the B-1 can launch guided cruise missiles just like the lengthy vary guided anti-ship missile (LRASM) a whole lot of miles from its goal and strike it with precision.”

“The final part will facilitate the transition to the brand new B-21 Raider within the close to future,” he added.

The Guam Mission Sends a Message To China

The Bomber Job Power’s momentary obligation in Guam is not any small transfer, regardless of solely sending 4 plane to the US territory, because the scenario is far hotter in Guam. 

The deployment comes amid elevated tensions within the Indo-Pacific with China and North Korea. Russia, given its shared contiguous maritime zone in its far east, has performed more and more aggressive and complete naval and aerial drills with its ally of comfort, Beijing, and direct protection industrial and “military-technological” cooperation with North Korea.

This deployment, referred to as BTF-25-1, helps the Pacific Air Forces’ coaching efforts with Allies, companions, and joint forces and strategic deterrence missions to bolster the rules-based worldwide order within the Indo-Pacific area. It isn’t clear how lengthy this deployment will final. 

Nonetheless, not solely the bombers deploy. When B-1 Lancers are despatched abroad, they require large spares and upkeep gear help. This upkeep program requires a number of C-17 Globemaster IIIs from the assorted mobility wings flown to Andersen AFB throughout deployment. It exhibits US resolve and the seriousness of the scenario. 

The B1-B Is Getting Lengthy Within the Tooth, The B-21 Is The Future

The B-1B Lancer remains to be the spine of the US Air Power’s long-range bomber triad. The supersonic B-1B Lancer can carry the most important standard payload of guided and unguided weapons within the Air Power stock.

The B-1B has artificial aperture radar, which permits it to trace shifting targets. The airplane additionally has digital warfare capabilities that may jam incoming enemy plane and chaff and flares that confuse enemy radar-guided and heat-seeking missiles.

B-1B Bomber. Picture: Artistic Commons.

Nonetheless, they lack stealth expertise. Adversaries within the Indo-Pacific have refined air protection techniques, and the Lancers would most likely not fare properly towards them in a penetration mission.

The airframes are reaching the tip of their operational lives and can want shut monitoring. However regardless of these issues, the Lancers will probably be required till the B-21 pressure is totally up to the mark. As these deployments present, the B-1s are nonetheless a pressure to be reckoned with. 

In its standard strike function, the B-1B was first utilized in fight in Iraq in Operation Desert Fox in 1998 and has flown missions there and in Afghanistan. Earlier this yr, B-1Bs have been utilized in Syria.

In the course of the first six months of Operation Enduring Freedom, eight B-1s dropped virtually 40 % of aerial ordnance, together with some 3,900 Joint Direct Assault Munitions (JDAMs).

JDAM munitions have been closely utilized by the B-1 over Iraq, notably on  April 7, 2003, in an unsuccessful try to kill Saddam Hussein and his two sons. Throughout Operation Enduring Freedom, the B-1 raised its mission succesful price to 79 %.

Throughout a six-month deployment to Afghanistan in 2012, the Air Power saved a B-1B within the air always, accounting for 1 / 4 of all air sorties throughout that point, and averaged two to a few missions per day, supporting the bottom troops. 

B-1Bs have been utilized in Syria throughout the US/Kurdish operations to take away the Islamic State (ISIS) throughout the Syrian Civil Conflict. 

After a drone assault in Jordan that killed three US troops, the US deployed two B-1Bs to strike 85 terrorist targets in seven places in Iraq and Syria as a part of a multi-tiered response on February 2, 2024.

The Air Power plans to maintain the B-1Bs in service till 2038 when the B-21 Raider stealth bomber must be fielded solely.

The Upkeep Of The Lancer Is Costly

The B-1B Lancer is an costly aircraft to maintain within the air. Nonetheless, the B-1 Lancer’s $63,000 value per flight hour is lower than the $72,000 for the B-52 and the $135,000 for the B-2 stealth bomber. A typical 12-hour flight prices practically one million {dollars} for upkeep and repairs. 

U.S. Air Power maintainers from Ellsworth Air Power Base, South Dakota, work 24/7 servicing and inspecting the B-1B Lancer. They’re maintainers throughout the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing’s thirty fourth Expeditionary Plane Upkeep Unit (nicknamed “the spine of the bone”) and supply a whole lot of 1000’s of manpower hours throughout six month deployments to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Maintainers comprise roughly a dozen totally different profession specialties to make sure the plane flies and meets mission all through the Center East. The Lancer carries the most important standard payload of guided and unguided weapons within the Air Power stock.

However it’s a value properly price what it brings as a deterrent. 

The “Bone” Stays A Essential Airframe

“The Bone” stays a vital asset within the US Air Power’s bomber pressure, together with the B-52 Stratofortress and the B-2 Spirit, and may carry large standard payloads and conduct long-range strike missions. With an inside payload of 70,000 kilos of weapons, it has the most important payload of any US aircraft ever. 

Whereas it lacks the stealth high quality to make it an excellent penetrator of enemy (Russian, Chinese language, North Korean, and Iranian) airspace, it could have misplaced its mission as a nuclear bomber. Nonetheless, it will probably carry 24 Joint Direct Assault Munitions (JDAMs). It has been a flexible airframe that has been in a position to evolve.

With the aptitude to launch long-range stand-off weapons, it will probably goal naval ships whereas patrolling giant swaths of the Pacific Ocean. As a result of its lengthy vary, it’s totally able to this, together with the B-52. For now, the stealthy missions will fall to the B-2. 

The US will begin seeing the B-21s by 2026, however till then, our triad of tried-and-true bombers must suffice. The B-1B will stay an enormous a part of that. 

Concerning the Writer: Steve Balestrieri 

Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive Nationwide Safety Columnist. He served as a US Military Particular Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. Along with writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Professional Soccer Writers of America (PFWA). His work was usually featured in lots of navy publications.