[Sea Demon]

Originally Posted by tycho102

We will never go back to carpet bombing, so what's the point?

What is the payload on a B-1a, B-1b, and B-2? I know the B-2 has to be balanced against it's operational range -- if you need the thing to fly it's full 24,000km, then it can only load something like 10,000lbs. I'm pretty sure it has a maximum take-off load near 30,000lbs. B-52's can carry, what, like 60,000 pounds? The C-5 can hold something like 120,000lbs.

We'd use a C-5 full of MOABS before we started carpet bombing. We'll use guided-napalm before we carpet bomb.



I call BS. This is like the B-36, all over again.

Never say never. Free fall munitions are still part of the weapons packages that these bombers carry. In any battlefield where you have eliminated a bulk of enemy air defense assets, B-52/B-1/B-2 free fall bombing supported by electronic warfare support would be a brutal option for quickly and efficiently eradicating enemy front line units or other targets of high value behind the lines. But I would agree that B-52's carrying cruise missiles and other stand-off weapons would be a better option in an area where enemy IADS is strong. Probably only at the start of any conflict. But USAF command staff still sees bombing with free fall munitions as an option. Trust me.

All of these bombers carry JDAM's, huge amounts of free fall Mk-84 and Mk-83, a wide range of cluster munitions, sea mines, ALCM's (AGM-86, SRAM)(nuclear tipped and conventional), Harpoons (B-52 only), SDB (B-1 and B-2), and free fall nuclear gravity bombs (B-61, B-83 / B-52 and B-2 only). B-1 is no longer a nuclear intercontinental strategic bomber like the other two after the Nuclear Posture Review. However the B-1 could easily be changed back into that role if need be. As far as the B-52's age, you would be surprised how modern it is inside that aircraft. It's not the same airplane that flew in the 1960's. The current B-52H is very relevant as a 21st century bomber. It is and will continue to be modernized throughout it's lifetime.

I think this new bomber they're planning for 2018 will fit nicely into this family of bombers. Each of the current USAF bombers each have their role and they do it well. B-1 is a nuclear capable supersonic low-level penetration bomber. B-2 is a very low-observable high altitude bomber designed to penetrate deeply into enemy territory to eliminate high value enemy asssets (or outright strategic nuclear destruction), and B-52 is the high powered, high capacity bomber that is available as a bomber, or cruise missile platform. The B-52 is the one that will bring the bulk of munitions to the enemy in any sustained conflict. The B-1 and B-2 will destroy the important stuff like command and control, enemy IADS, political, and heavily defended logistics. I think this new bomber will incorporate alot of stuff from all three of these bombers.