B-1 year in review

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Charles V. Rivezzo
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  With a career that spans three decades and a warfighting reputation that rivals nearly every aircraft in the Air Force's arsenal, it may be tough to pinpoint a specific year of distinction for the B-1 Bomber. However, 2011 was one to remember for the B-1 community.

Throughout the last year, the B-1 saw multiple upgrades in its radar systems and weapons capabilities, as well as operational testing that revolutionized the way it can be used in present and future conflicts requiring long-range strike.

Furthermore, the bomber's capabilities were showcased on a global stage with its participation in Operation New Dawn, where B-1s from Ellsworth AFB, S.D., flew transatlantic bombing missions to Libya in support of NATO forces.

Although it's nearly 30 years old, upgrades in its radar systems and computer software have significantly increased the bombers longevity.

"Most of our aircraft are approaching 30 years," said Lt. Col. George Holland, 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron commander. "I like to tell my guys, 30 is the new 20. And in many ways, this is true, as we continually upgrade our aircraft with both sustainment and capability modifications."

According to Holland, the B-1 has long been the backbone of the Air Force's long-range strike fleet. Recent upgrades such as the radar Reliability and Maintainability Improvement Program, which provides an updated offensive radar system, and the Sustainment Block-14B/Laptop Controlled Targeting Pod Phase II upgrade, which allows seamless integration of the new GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition, have increased the B-1's ability to attack moving targets on land and sea, catapulting the aircraft well into the new decade, and holding any target at risk 24/7, 365 days a year.

In addition to onboard upgrades, advancements in weapons employment have kept the bomber at the top of the food chain in terms of versatility.

Laser-guided JDAMS, Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles-Extended Range and BLU-129s are three new munitions that have been recently added to the B-1s already extensive arsenal.

"With range, payload, persistence and an increased capability to attack moving targets, the B-1 has the versatility that combatant commanders need to deter or deny our enemies," Holland added.

"The B-1 is absolutely a choice war-fighting platform considering it can carry multiple weapons, each with specific capabilities, and deploy those weapons at a moment's notice," said Maj. Thomas Bryant, 337th TES. "In today's fight, precision and accuracy are everything. Being able to take out a target while minimizing collateral damage gives combatant commanders a wide range of flexibility."

The B-1 became the only bomber to successfully conduct maritime testing with laser-guided JDAMs when it successfully dropped 10 LJDAMs onto High Speed Maneuverable Surface Targets Sept. 15, at a bombing range in the Gulf of Mexico.

"The B-1 maritime operational test demonstrated the increased B-1 capabilities in the areas of maritime air support and maritime interdiction," said Maj. Andrew Pernell, 337th TES B-1 maritime test project officer. "This kind of testing will help develop tactics, techniques and procedures that the B-1 can use to successfully integrate its new capabilities into an expanded maritime role."

With a track record that speaks for itself, it can be said that the B-1 is one of the Air Force's most valuable assets against the war on terror.

Over the last decade of warfare, the B-1 has left its mark in Southwest Asia. As of 2010, B-1s flew only 16 percent of the total sorties in Operation Enduring Freedom, yet dropped 42 percent of the weapons.

Furthermore, during Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn, B-1s represented a mere two-and-a-half percent of the total sorties flown, yet dropped 45 percent of the munitions, making it the strike platform of choice. In fact, the B-1 has dropped more bombs than any other aircraft in Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom or Allied Force.

"With a B-1 overhead, it gives our ground troops an enormous sense of reassurance," said retired Army Gen. David Petreaus, former 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."

After a decade of dominance and a year that has seen revolutionary changes and accomplishments, the future has never been brighter for this age-defying bomber.

Potential upgrades such as the Multiple Ejector Rack, which successfully conducted a demonstration test early last year, give insight to what the future may hold for the B-1.

If fielded, 16-carry modified rotary launchers will increase the number of 500-pound JDAMs and laser-guided JDAMs carried by the B-1 from 15 to 48, a 320 percent increase in capability.

"The benefits of this increased capability are substantial," said Col. Gerald V. Goodfellow, 7th Bomb Wing vice commander. "As an example, when many Americans think about a bomber, they envision a B-52. Many Americans are surprised to find out that a B-1 can already carry and deliver twice as many precision guided bombs as a B-52."

As the B-1 continues to dominate in today's conflicts, its ability to employ the AGM-158 JASSM proves its capabilities to successfully engage targets anywhere, anytime.

According to Maj. Brian Owen, 77th Weapons Squadron instructor, the B-1 is the most capable JASSM employment platform in the world.

"What makes the B-1 unique versus the other aircraft around the world is that we can employ these weapons on such a large scale," Owen said. "We can take off with two aircraft and have the capability to strike 48 different targets."

Currently the weapon is employed on several aircraft to include the B-1 Bomber, B-52 Stratofortress, B-2 Spirit, F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-18 Super Hornet. However, the B-1 proves itself a front-runner when it comes to JASSM employment, due to its ability to carry 24 missiles; compared to 16 by the B-2, 12 by the B-52 and only two by fighters.

"While our nation waits on a new long-range strike capability, I'm proud to provide the B-1 capabilities to combatant commanders in the meantime," said Col. David Béen, 7th Bomb Wing commander. "Looking at the interim long-range strike needed in the Pacific and Asian areas, with its giant and mixed payload, supersonic speed, all-weather medium altitude or terrain hugging long-range flight profiles, high-resolution radar for fixed or moving targets and robust electronic self-protection suite ... if you didn't have the B-1, you'd have to invent it!"