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2022-09-01

Upgrades Keep B-1B Lancer on Mission Mode

The B-1B Lancer is a long-range, multi-mission, supersonic conventional bomber, considered the backbone of America’s long-range bomber force. It can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time.

Nicknamed “The Bone,” (from B-One), the aircraft has served the United States Air Force since 1985 and is well on track to continue flying, at current demanding operations tempo, out to 2040 and beyond.

Boeing partners with the Air Force to keep the B-1 mission ready.

Originally designed for nuclear capabilities, the B-1 switched to an exclusively conventional combat role in the mid-1990s. In 1999, during Operation Allied Force, six B-1s flew two per cent of the strike missions, yet dropped 20 per cent of the ordnance, and during Operation Enduring Freedom the B-1 flew on two per cent of the sorties while dropping over 40 per cent of the precision weapons. The B-1 has been almost continuously deployed in combat operations over Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001.

Its design incorporates a sleek, blended wing/body configuration. This geometry gives the bomber exceptional speed, manoeuvrability and survivability.

The B-1 was designed to penetrate radar-guided air defences by flying at low levels and was built in two versions. The B-1A, first flown in 1974, was designed to reach twice the speed of sound at high altitudes and to carry nuclear bombs and short-range attack missiles (SRAMs).

The B-1B modified the basic airframe with stealth features, such as blended contours and radar-absorbing materials, which reduced its radar reflectivity to one-hundredth that of the B-52 Stratofortress. It can accommodate four crew — aircraft commander, co-pilot, and two combat systems officers.

Strong Features

The B-1B is 146 feet (44.5 metres) long, and, when fully extended, its wings span about 137 feet (41.8 metres). The plane’s Four General Electric F101-GE-102 turbofan engine with afterburner can accelerate it past the speed of sound at its operating ceiling of more than 30,000 feet (9,144 metres), but its normal cruising speed is subsonic. With the wings fully swept back, the B-1B can drop to 200 feet (60 metres) above the ground and fly at 900-plus mph — Mach 1.2 at sea level. Its maximum take off weight is 477,000 pounds ( or 216,634 kilogrammes).

Key Element

The B-1B’s blended wing/body configuration, variable-geometry wings and turbofan afterburning engines, combine to provide long range, manoeuvrability and high speed while enhancing survivability. Forward wing settings are used for takeoff, landings, air refuelling and in some high-altitude weapons employment scenarios.

Aft wing sweep settings — the main combat configuration — are typically used during high subsonic and supersonic flight, enhancing the B-1B’s manoeuvrability in the low- and high-altitude regimes. The B-1B’s speed and superior handling characteristics allow it to seamlessly integrate in mixed force packages. These capabilities, when combined with its substantial payload, excellent radar targeting system, long loiter time and survivability, make the B-1B a key element of any joint/composite strike force.

Carrying Capacity

The B-1 can carry eight air-launched cruise missiles or 24 short-range attack missiles (SRAMs). It can carry up to 24 nuclear bombs or 84 500-pound (227-kg) conventional bombs. With a payload of 75,000 pounds (34,019 kilogrammes), the B-1B can fly 4,600 miles (7,400 km) without refuelling.

B-1B can carry 84 500-pound Mk-82 or 24 2,000-pound Mk-84 general purpose bombs; up to 84 500-pound Mk-62 or 8 2,000-pound Mk-65 Quick Strike naval mines; 30 cluster munitions (CBU-87, -89, -97) or 30 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispensers (CBU-103, -104, -105); up to 24 2,000-pound GBU-31 or 15 500-pound GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions; up to 24 AGM-158A Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles; 15 GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions.

Electronic Protection

The B-1B’s synthetic aperture radar is capable of tracking, targeting and engaging moving vehicles as well as self-targeting and terrain-following modes. An extremely accurate Global Positioning System-aided Inertial Navigation System enables aircrews to navigate without the aid of ground-based navigation aids as well as engage targets with a high level of precision.

The addition of a fully integrated data link (FIDL) with Link-16 capability provides improved battlefield situation awareness and secure beyond line of sight reach back connectivity.

The B-1B’s onboard self-protection electronic jamming equipment, radar warning receiver (ALQ-161) and expendable countermeasures (chaff and flare) system and a towed decoy system (ALE-50) complements its low-radar cross-section to form an integrated, robust defence system that supports penetration of hostile airspace. The ALQ-161 electronic countermeasures system detects and identifies the full spectrum of adversary threat emitters then applies the appropriate jamming technique either automatically or through operator inputs.

Current modifications build on this foundation. Radar sustainability and capability upgrades will provide a more reliable system and may be upgraded in the future to include an ultra high-resolution capability and automatic target recognition.

Several obsolete and hard to maintain electronic systems are being replaced to improve aircraft reliability.

Record-breaking Path

The B-1A was initially developed in the 1970s as a replacement for the B-52. Four prototypes of this long-range, high speed (Mach 2.2) strategic bomber were developed and tested in the mid-1970s, but the programme was cancelled in 1977 before going into production. Flight testing continued through 1981.

The B-1B is an improved variant initiated by the Reagan administration in 1981. Major changes included increase in payload by 74,000 pounds, an improved radar and reduction of the radar cross section by an order of magnitude. The inlet was extensively modified as part of this RCS reduction, necessitating a reduction in maximum speed to Mach 1.2.

The first production B-1 flew in October 1984, and the first B-1B was delivered to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, in June 1985. Initial operational capability was achieved on Oct. 1, 1986. The final B-1B was delivered May 2, 1988.

The United States eliminated the nuclear mission for the B-1 in 1994. Even though the Air Force expended no further funding to maintain nuclear capabilities, the B-1 was considered a heavy bomber equipped for nuclear armament until 2007.

The conversion to conventional only began in November 2007 under the original START treaty and was completed in March 2011 under the New START treaty.

Two Steps Were Taken

During the first step a metal cylindrical sleeve was welded into the aft attachment point of each set of B-1 pylon attachments. This prevented installing B-1 Air Launched Cruise Missile pylons.

During the second step two nuclear armament-unique cable connectors in each of the B-1 weapons bays were removed. This prevented the pre-arm signal from reaching the weapons.

The B-1B holds almost 50 world records for speed, payload, range, and time of climb in its class. The National Aeronautic Association recognised the B-1B for completing one of the 10 most memorable record flights for 1994. The most recent records were made official in 2004.

Variety of Upgrades

The U.S. Air Force retired 17 of the oldest B-1s in 2021. The Air Force has not said exactly when it plans to retire the remainder of the operational B-1B fleet. The service’s bomber roadmap from several years ago posited the B-1Bs phasing out in the 2040 timeframe.

To keep it flying to 2040 and beyond, Boeing partnered with the U.S. Air Force on a variety of upgrades and modifications, including the Integrated Battle Station, or IBS, which enhances situational awareness and communications for crews.

Increasing the B-1 capacity to carry more U.S. Air Force weapons is the first step. It addresses the current shortfall in overall weapons carrying capacity across the Air Force. The second step is carrying new weapons, such as hypersonic missiles, that address growing global security challenges.

Hypersonic weapons will play a major role in the evolution of the B-1. With recent modifications, including the completion of the integrated battle station update, upgrading the communications systems behind the B-1, the aircraft will continue to play a critical role in alignment with the Air Force vision for the future.

IBS integrates three major aircraft modifications: a new front and aft flight deck, a new diagnostics system, and a new data link.

Over the years, the B-1B has continued to evolve from its original mission of nuclear deterrence to playing an essential role in long-range strike. Boeing is also partnering with the U.S. Air Force to conduct full-scale fatigue testing on the fuselage and expand the aircraft’s capacity to carry crucial hypersonic weapons.

According to programme leaders, these combined enhancements will ensure the B-1B fleet remains ready, relevant and viable within the global strike mission.

Reference Text/Photo:

www.boeing.com, www.af.mil

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