First-ever B-1 munitions capability layout

  • Published
  • By Airman Charles V. Rivezzo
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  A B-1 bomber was showcased with its massive weapons capability during a first-ever B-1 munitions capability layout photo shoot at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, April 5.

"It was a great opportunity to display the capability of a B-1 from a munitions standpoint," said Col. David Been, 7th Bomb Wing commander. "No other aircraft in the Air Force inventory even comes close to a B-1 in that aspect.

"The munitions layout truly showcased the proven and emerging capability of a B-1 to combatant commanders for the need to keep the B-1 fleet active and involved in every contingency around the world," he said.

A B-1 is capable of delivering twice as many 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munitions and 2,000-pound Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles as a B-52, and nearly twice the payload of a B-2.

According to www.af.mil, a B-1 also carries the largest payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the Air Force as well as travels at speeds of more than 900 mph. It can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time.

"Rather than use 10 fighters that can drop only a limited number of bombs, one B-1 can loiter over a target for hours and drop 75,000-pounds of bombs -- wherever they need to be dropped," said Col. Gerald V. Goodfellow, 7th Operations Group commander.

The swept-wing bomber is capable of flying from stateside bases to targets half a world away or launch from forward operating locations for extended engagements. It has proven its worth over Afghanistan where it has been one of the Air Force workhorses.

Air Force records show B-1s dropped nearly 40 percent of all bombs in the war on terrorism and were also able to accomplish that while only flying five percent of the missions over Afghanistan.

"With a B-1 overhead, it gives our ground troops an enormous sense of reassurance," said Army Gen. David Petreaus, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. "When a bone is above, you have a sense that a true national asset is over your shoulder."