The United States Air Force has long been at the
forefront of strategic bomber technology,
fielding some of the most advanced aircraft in the world.
The evolution of its bomber fleet not only reflects advancements
in aerospace technology,
but also strategic shifts in how the US plans to
project power and deter adversaries in an increasingly complex global
theatre.
This progression ensures that the US bomber fleet remains ready
and capable of addressing any threats that may arise,
securing its place as a crucial element of National Defence
strategy.
Let's start with an overachiever that holds
61 world records for speed,
payload and distance.
The B1B Lancer, AKA The Bone,
is a swing wing bomber intended for high speed,
low altitude penetration missions. When we say low,
we mean like 15 storeys low.
This bomber can fly at night through mountains as low
as 200 feet without being detected by air defence systems.
And the bone is not a tiny bird either.
When fully extended, the B1B's wings reach remarkable
130 feet, nearly twice the width of a standard
747400's wings at 212 feet.
Holding the title for the largest internal payload among contemporary
bombers,
it is a prominent member of the US Air Force's
strategic bomber trio.
This aircraft can carry 75,000 lbs of payload at supersonic
speeds while maintaining a radar profile under 1%
of the B52 Stratofortresses.
During the first six months of Operation Enduring Freedom,
8B1 BS dropped to nearly
40% of the total tonnage delivered by Coalition air forces.
It can also support an additional 50,000 lbs of external
weaponry on pylons under its wings,
bringing the total payload up to a
jaw-dropping £125,000. This aircraft can carry Air Launched Cruise Missiles,
General Purpose Bombs, Cluster Munitions,
Joint Direct Attack Munitions and Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions.
It can also deploy Moab or Massive Ordnance Air Blast,
the largest conventional bomb ever made.
With a weapon load of
£37,000, the B1B can fly
4600 miles without refuelling. The
B1B has swept wings, which means the wings point backward
rather than straight across.
The wings are also adjustable and can be shifted from
15 to
67.5°.
The forward wing configuration is used for take off landings
and high altitude maximum cruise speed,
whereas the wings are generally set in the aft configuration
with the wings closer to the tail during high subsonic
and supersonic flight.
The B1B Lancer is equipped with the Northrop Grumman
APQ 164A versatile radar system featuring an electronically scanned phased
array antenna.
The terrain following capability of the
B1B is particularly notable as it scans the terrain ahead
and assists in flying as low as 200 feet above
ground level,
enabling the aircraft to closely follow the landscape.
The aircraft is operated by 4 crew members,
Pilot, copilot, Defensive Systems Operator or DSO and Offensive Systems
Operator or OSO.
Embracing Agile scheduling Team or BEAST initiative aims to prolong
the
B1B Lancers service life and combat effectiveness well into 2040
and beyond,
marking a significant enhancement of this renowned aircraft.
While the B1B with its impressive speed and payload capacity
excels in delivering massive quantities of precision and non precision
weapons,
it operates under the limitation of being more detectable by
enemy radar systems.
Enter the B2 Spirits and leap forward in Stealth technology.
This aircraft was designed from the ground up with Stealth
as a priority.
Featuring a unique flying wing design that drastically minimizes its
radar cross section
when the US faces conflict,
The award-winning B2 Spirit Heavy Bomber is the deadly shadow
of the first night
in Operation Allied Force. It executed less than 1%
of missions but delivered a defining strike,
annihilating 33% of targets in the initial 8 weeks.
It's stealth game unmatched, with not a single missile daring
to challenge its dominance in the skies.
It is the only known in service aircraft that can
carry large air to surface stand off weapons in a
stealth configuration.
The B2 Spirit with its distinct bat like silhouette stands
as a testament to the technological prowess of the US
military.
Utilizing composite materials in its innovative design,
the B2's radar absorbing structure rendered it nearly undetectable to
adversaries.
To realize this aircraft, Northrop Grumman embarked on a journey
of invention,
crafting everything from scratch. This comprehensive endeavour encompassed tools,
a dedicated software lab, unique composite materials,
state-of-the-art testing equipment, 3D modelling,
computer systems and the accompanying manufacturing procedures.
Introduced to the world in
1988, the B2 Spirit journeyed through several phases of development
and encountered challenges,
notably with its stealth coating.
However, by April 1997 the aircraft had fully realised its
potential and operational capabilities.
The B2 measures 69 feet in length,
stands 17 feet tall and boasts a
172 foot wingspan equivalent to half the length of a
football field.
This bomber has a maximum take off weight of 376,000
lbs and
a range of
6900 miles.
The B2 is designed with a two person crew,
a pilot on the left and a mission commander on
the right.
It also offers space for an additional crew member if
required.
Thanks to its advanced automation,
the B2 allows one crew member to rest,
use the restroom or prepare a meal,
while the other overseas the
aircraft's operations. A unique feature not typically found in other
two seater planes,
the B2 Spirits radar system and avionics represents a blend
of pioneering technology and innovative design.
Central to its capabilities is the
APQ 118A MULTI mode high resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar system.
This radar is specifically tailored to penetrate enemy defences,
providing the B2 with a detailed real time picture of
the battlefield and enhancing its target acquisition and bombing accuracy.
Integrated into the aircraft's radar is its ability to function
as both a ground mapping radar and a radar detector,
a dual function that significantly improves the bombers evasion and
stealth tactics.
The B2 bombers stealth capabilities allowed to bypass advanced anti
aircraft defences,
enabling it to strike even the most fortified targets.
This ability to go undetected arises from its multispectral camouflage
which reduces its acoustic,
infrared, visual and radar footprints.
Its stealth nature diminishes the need for additional support aircraft
such as those for air cover or electronic countermeasures,
enhancing its role as a force multiplier.
It is so stealthy that no surface to air missile
was ever launched at AB2.
The bomber's anti reflective paint helps minimize its visibility in
daylight.
Given its high altitude flight path at
50,000 feet, its dark grey underside merges with the sky
making it less discernible.
Maintaining its stealth coating requires housing the aircraft and specialized
$5,000,000 air conditioned hangars
every seven years. This unique coating undergoes a gentle cleaning
process using crystallized wheat starch to check for surface damage.
It's engines are buried deep inside the fuselage in order
to minimize the thermal visibility or infrared signature of the
exhaust.
When the B2 takes action,
it's delivers a thundering message.
This bomber boasts the
AGM 158A Jassem and the Enhanced
AGM158B Jassem ER missiles. Their inclusion ensures that the B2
can strike targets from a safe distance without the risk
of entering zones protected by hostile air defence systems.
The B2 boasts A diverse range of conventional weaponry,
including the Mark 82 and the Mark 84 bombs,
CBU 87 Combined Effects Munitions,
Gator Mines and the CBU 97 Sensor Fused Weapon.
The B2 can carry two Massive Ordnance Penetrator,
or MOPA
30,000 LB weapon designed to target reinforced bunkers,
making it the only aircraft compatible with this weapon.
The B2 Spirits unparalleled capabilities came at a price,
making it the most expensive aircraft of its era at
around $900 million
per unit. It's worth noting that while the aim was
to have a fleet of
132B2 bombers, budgetary constraints reduced this number to
21. An unfortunate crash in
2008 further brought the count to 20,
as defence technology involved. The
B21 radar was introduced in
2022 as its successor. As for the future,
the B2 Spirit is projected to serve the skies until
the mid twenty 30s,
ensuring that it's legacy as a marvel of aviation and
defence technology endures.
Marking its inaugural flight on November the
10th, 2023, the Raider stands as a testament to a
new dawn in military aviation.
As the 1st 21st century Bomber,
the B21 is a marvel of engineering.
In an era where the stealth race between the United
States and its rivals reaches new heights,
the B21 Raider emerges as a game changer in aerial
warfare.
In terms of its role and capabilities,
the B21 isn't just another addition to the fleet,
it's the backbone of the future Air Force Bomber Force.
The B21 Raiders stealth features Embody Advanced Engineering,
focusing on minimising its radar and infrared signatures.
Its design incorporates A secondary air intake on top of
each in the cell,
similar to the B2 but with a notable difference.
The B21 likely has just one engine in each nacelle,
inferred from the presence of a single intake door per
nacelle.
This twin engine configuration is a strategic design choice for
stealth optimization.
Perhaps one of the most striking distinctions lies in the
physical dimensions of the
B21. Compared to the B2,
the Raiders smaller frame with an estimated wingspan at least
25% shorter than the
B2's 172 feet, translates into a stealthier and more efficient
aircraft.
This size reduction, coupled with a payload capacity of about
half of the
B2's 60,000 lbs, doesn't diminish its lethality,
but rather enhances its stealth and range capabilities.
This makes the B21 harder to detect on radar,
offering superior survivability and operational flexibility in contested air spaces.
The B21 radar is expected to carry a broad array
of sophisticated weapon systems.
It's arsenal is anticipated to include the latest in precision
guided munitions such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition or
JDAM series,
which provides accurate GPS guided bombing options.
Additionally, the Raider is likely to be compatible with the
B6112 nuclear bombs, ensuring its role as a key component
in the US nuclear triad.
Lastly, the B21 Raiders design philosophy embraces the trend of
modularity and upgradeability in modern military aviation.
Unlike previous systems, the B21's hardware and software are not
inextricably linked,
allowing for easier upgrades and expansions in capabilities.
The estimated unit procurement cost of the
B21 radar reached
$692 million in 2022 dollars,
representing a significant commitment on behalf of the USAF.
This concludes our episode that provides A glimpse into the
USA FS modern bombers.
There are of course, many other remarkable aircraft in the
US military's inventory.
So what do you think about these iconic aircraft?
What other pieces of military hardware would you like us
to cover in our future episodes?
Also, if you were lucky enough to see one of
the aircraft mentioned in this video up close,
or better yet, flew one,
please comment.