What is the B1 B-1 bomber?
, the other two being the B-2 Spirit and the B-52 Stratofortress . The B-1 was first envisioned in the 1960s as a platform that would combine the Mach 2 speed of the B-58 Hustler with the range and payload of the B-52, and was meant to ultimately replace both bombers.
How many JDAMs does a B-1 bomber drop?
The B-1 has deployed an array of conventional weapons in war zones, most notably the GBU-31, 2,000-pound (910 kg) JDAM. In the first six months of Operation Enduring Freedom, eight B-1s dropped almost 40 percent of aerial ordnance, including some 3,900 JDAMs.
Why does the B-1 bomber have aft swept wings?
Aft-swept wing settings are used in high subsonic and supersonic flight. The B-1’s variable-sweep wings and thrust-to-weight ratio provide it with improved takeoff performance, allowing it to use shorter runways than previous bombers. The length of the aircraft presented a flexing problem due to air turbulence at low altitude.
What happened to the B-1B bomber in 1990?
In October 1990, while flying a training route in eastern Colorado, B-1B (86-0128) from the 384th Bomb Wing, 28th Bomb Squadron, McConnell AFB, experienced an explosion as the engines reached full power without afterburners. Fire on the aircraft’s left was spotted.
When will the B-21 bomber be used in combat?
Retrieved 23 April 2017. The stealth B-21, the first new U.S. bomber of the 21st century, is part of an effort to replace the Air Force’s aging B-52 and B-1 bombers, though it is not slated to be ready for combat use before 2025. ^ Brook, Tom Vanden.
Where are the B-21 Raider test aircraft being made?
Mr. Randall Walden, director of the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and Program Executive Officer of the B-21 Raider Program, had previously confirmed to Air Force Magazine in January that two test aircraft were making their way down the production line at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Palmdale.