The United States Air Force has 60 B-1Bs in service, split between four squadrons, which in turn are organised into two Bomb Wings, the 7^th Bomb Wing at Dyess AFB, where 33 are based and the 28^th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB, where the remaining 27 are based. Jason Grant and Mark Forest took a look around the B-1B’s of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess AFB, which is situated just outside Abilene, Texas, to find out how developments and upgrades have made the B-1B into one of the most capable and lethal bombers in the world today.

Mission

Carrying the largest payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the Air Force inventory, the multi-mission B-1 is 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.

Background

The B-1B Lancer, also affectionately known as the Bone, was first envisaged during the 1960s as a mach 2 supersonic long-range bomber, capable of taking over the role of the B-52 Stratofortress. Developed during the 1970s the B-1A’s development suffered from a change in the strategic balance between massive retaliation and flexible response, this change in stance, coupled with high costs ultimately brought about the cancellation of the B-1 project and the mothballing of the four prototypes.

The need for a Long-Range Combat Aircraft (LRCA) in the early 1980s once again put the B-1 on the table as an option. Stealth technology was being developed behind the scenes. It offered a dramatic improvement in capability but it was also accepted that any “Advanced Technology Bomber” (ATB) would not be operational before a new, enhanced version of the B-1 could enter service, added to the fact that the B-52 was becoming increasingly vulnerable to new, more advanced cold war threats, the go ahead was given to bring the B-1 program back into development to cover the transition period between the B-52 and the ATB introduction. In January 1982, Rockwell was awarded the $2.2 billion LRCA contract to develop and produce 100 B-1 bombers.

Changes to the original design included;
A new designed intake ramp which reduced the maximum speed from Mach 2.22 to Mach 1.25 but this greatly reduced the radar signature of the aircraft.

Low-level speeds were increased to Mach 0.92
Take-off weight increased to 477,000 pounds
Upgraded electronic warfare suite

Of the four original B-1A prototypes, two of them were modified and used for the B-1B flight test program which began in March 1983. The first actual production B-1B rolled-out on the 4^th September 1984, followed by its first flight a month later on 18^th October 1984. Production continued for the next four years with the 100^th B-1B delivered on 2^nd May 1988.

Characteristics

The B-1B is a, long-range, multi-role heavy bomber with four General Electric F101-GE-102 turbofan engine capable of 30,000 plus pounds with afterburner per engine. With a wingspan of 137 feet extended forward or 79 feet swept back, the 146 feet long, 34 feet high swing wing bomber has a maximum speed of Mach 1.2 and a ceiling of more than 30,000 feet. Capable of air-to-air, its range is Intercontinental.

Armament

84 x 500-pound Mk-82 or 24 x 2,000-pound Mk-84 general purpose bombs
;84 x 500-pound Mk-62 or 8 x 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)
;24 x 2,000-pound GBU-31 or 15 x 500-pound GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions
;24 AGM-158A Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles
;GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition
sThe B-1B is no longer equipped to carry nuclear missiles

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Crew and Operations

The B-1B consists of a four person crew; Pilot, Co-Pilot, Offensive System Officer and a Defensive System Officer. The System Officers sit in a separate compartment behind the cockpit.
The Offensive System Officer uses a radar generated map to guide the pilots to the target. Upon reaching the target, the onboard computer decides the optimum point to release the munitions, 3 seconds later, up to 84 munitions are released.
When a Defensive System Officer receives a warning of enemy aircraft in the area, the pilot points the nose down by 20 degrees, engages the terrain following mode and let’s go of the stick. With the wings swept back, the aircraft drops from 25,000 feet to 500 feet in less than a minute. The bombers best means of survival is to hide in the ground clutter hugging the deck at near the speed of sound. The pilot can take control at this point or the aircraft can fly itself. The fins on the aircraft nose increase stability at low level. When the aircraft is in a hostile area, the crew turn off all non essential electronics to reduce the B-1B’s footprint.

Maintenance

The B-1B requires 12 maintenance hours per flight hour and a major strip down service takes place every 18 months. So far during 2012, all Dyess AFB detached jets have 100% service capability which is a testament to all the staff involved with the 7^th Bomb Wing.

Upgrades

Since its production, the B-1B has benefitted from a series of upgrades, the first being the “Conventional Mission Upgrade Program” which enabled the use of precision guided conventional weapons. Electronic countermeasures have also been upgraded as have the avionics computers. The latest upgrade which has been integrated into the B-1 fleet is the Sniper XR (Extended Range) targeting pod. This can be seen clearly attached to an external hard point near the forward bomb bay. The Sniper pod provides positive target identification, autonomous tracking, co-ordinate generation and precise weapon’s guidance from extended standoff ranges. This year, the B-1B began trials of the Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). This significant upgrade will increase the targeting accuracy to the B-1B fleet. The B-1B is currently being equipped with the Fully Integrated Data Link (FIDL) which allows electronic data sharing and is voice satellite capable. This upgrade program will be complete by fiscal year 2014.
In July 2011, Boeing announced the Integrated Battle Station (IBS) program for modification of the B-1 fleet. Upgrades will include new display units in the cockpit and a Central Integrated Test System, four new multi-function colour displays in the cockpit, replacing the old monochrome displays.

Operations and Achievements

Operation Desert Fox was the combat debut of the B-1B.
Operation Allied Force: During Operation Allied Force, 6 B-1Bs flew less than 2% of Allied sorties but dropped more than 20% of the total munitions.
Operation Allied Freedom: Using only 8 deployed B-1Bs, the aircraft flew 5% of the total sorties but dropped 39% of the total munitions.
Operation Iraqi Freedom: The B-1B flew 1% of the sorties and dropped 35% of the total munitions.

The B-1B Lancer currently holds approximately 49 world records for speed, payload, range and time of climb in class. In 2008, the B-1B became the first aircraft to fly supersonic using a mix of 50% JP8 Jet fuel and 50% Synthetic fuel which was derived from natural gas.

The Future?

An out of service date of 2025 has been given but with the spiralling costs of aircraft development and a heavy reliance on the B-1B to precisely deliver a massive amount of ordinance anywhere in the world at any time, it is difficult to see the B-1B leaving the front line of operations within this time frame. The B-1B continues to be the Backbone of the American long-range bomber force today, and will continue to be well into the next decade.

Jason Grant and Mark Forest would like to thank 2^nd Lt Ferrara, Deputy Chief of the Public Affairs’ Office for taking the time to arrange and guide them through the visit at Dyess AFB. They would also like to thank all the staff who they met on the day for kindly allowing the access and providing the information for this report.

Upgrades

Since its production, the B-1B has benefitted from a series of upgrades, the first being the “Conventional Mission Upgrade Program” which enabled the use of precision guided conventional weapons. Electronic countermeasures have also been upgraded as have the avionics computers. The latest upgrade which has been integrated into the B-1 fleet is the Sniper XR (Extended Range) targeting pod. This can be seen clearly attached to an external hard point near the forward bomb bay. The Sniper pod provides positive target identification, autonomous tracking, co-ordinate generation and precise weapon’s guidance from extended standoff ranges. This year, the B-1B began trials of the Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). This significant upgrade will increase the targeting accuracy to the B-1B fleet. The B-1B is currently being equipped with the Fully Integrated Data Link (FIDL) which allows electronic data sharing and is voice satellite capable. This upgrade program will be complete by fiscal year 2014.
In July 2011, Boeing announced the Integrated Battle Station (IBS) program for modification of the B-1 fleet. Upgrades will include new display units in the cockpit and a Central Integrated Test System, four new multi-function colour displays in the cockpit, replacing the old monochrome displays.

Operations and Achievements

Operation Desert Fox was the combat debut of the B-1B.
Operation Allied Force: During Operation Allied Force, 6 B-1Bs flew less than 2% of Allied sorties but dropped more than 20% of the total munitions.
Operation Allied Freedom: Using only 8 deployed B-1Bs, the aircraft flew 5% of the total sorties but dropped 39% of the total munitions.
Operation Iraqi Freedom: The B-1B flew 1% of the sorties and dropped 35% of the total munitions.

The B-1B Lancer currently holds approximately 49 world records for speed, payload, range and time of climb in class. In 2008, the B-1B became the first aircraft to fly supersonic using a mix of 50% JP8 Jet fuel and 50% Synthetic fuel which was derived from natural gas.

The Future?

An out of service date of 2025 has been given but with the spiralling costs of aircraft development and a heavy reliance on the B-1B to precisely deliver a massive amount of ordinance anywhere in the world at any time, it is difficult to see the B-1B leaving the front line of operations within this time frame. The B-1B continues to be the Backbone of the American long-range bomber force today, and will continue to be well into the next decade.

Jason Grant and Mark Forest would like to thank 2^nd Lt Ferrara, Deputy Chief of the Public Affairs’ Office for taking the time to arrange and guide them through the visit at Dyess AFB. They would also like to thank all the staff who they met on the day for kindly allowing the access and providing the information for this report.