US Airforce B-1R

[SUBMAN1]

I was not aware of this aircraft, but the B-1 may get an extended lease on life it may seem.

Boeing page on the B-1R:
http://www.boeing.com/ids/allsystems...2/story01.html

A short video I pulled on how it would be deployed in combat in the air to air role (this is how I first heard of it in the first place):
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v9988640b476AWQQ

So has anyone else heard of this new role for the B-1 program? I must be living in the dark ages since I never even knew this idea existed.

-S

B-1R

The B-1R is a proposed replacement for the B-1B fleet.[32] Boeing's director of global strike integration, Rich Parke, was first quoted about the "B-1R" bomber in Air Force Magazine.[33] Parke said the B-1R (R stands for "regional") would be a Lancer with advanced radars, air-to-air missiles, and Pratt & Whitney F119 engines (originally developed for the F-22 Raptor).[33] Its new top speed of Mach 2.2 would be purchased at the price of a 20% reduction of the B-1B's combat range. This proposal would involve modifying existing aircraft. The FB-22 and YF-23-based design are alternative proposals.


Boeing's proposal appears to modify the B-1B into a design able to serve these two purposes. For the bomb-truck role Boeing proposes the modification of existing external hardpoints to allow them to carry multiple conventional warheads, dramatically improving overall warload. For the air-to-air role, both defensive and offensive, they propose to add active electronically-scanned array radar and allow some of the hardpoints to carry anti-aircraft missiles. Even with its somewhat reduced range as compared to the original B-1B, its fuel capacity remains quite large. This would allow it to escape from unfavorable air-to-air encounters by simply running away; there are few enough aircraft capable of Mach 2+ performance in general, and those that are deployed can maintain these speeds for only very short periods of time.[32]


In general terms the B-1R most closely resembles the original F-111 concept, as opposed to a pure bomber role. However it would be able to carry out these missions at ranges even greater than the F-111.

[Happy Times]

[PeriscopeDepth]

I didn't know about this either. But me thinks it will never get past the concept stage. They couldn't even fund the last block upgrade in its entirety for the B-1.

PD

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by PeriscopeDepth

I didn't know about this either. But me thinks it will never get past the concept stage. They couldn't even fund the last block upgrade in its entirety for the B-1.

PD

That's because they planned to retire the B-1. Since Iraq and Afganistan however, military planners figured out what an asset this plane is. It carry's more bombs than any plane I know of - these planes in include the B-2 and B-52 - with 3 times the payload of a B-52 depending on what it is carrying!!! To a military planner, a single B-1 turned out to be a whole squadron of smaller fighters on the battlefield. So the 2001 decision to retire the B-1B was heavilly scaled back after it proved itself in our current wars.

This is where the B-1R comes from - military planners want even more capability. Seems like this plane can deliver, but I guess it always has to get past Congress eventually.

-S

PS. Here is the B-1B capacity for large JDAM's vs. other american bombers - notice that one single B-1 can carry more than 2x what a B-2 does, and 3x what a B-52 does! Now think what a B-1R would be like if it could carry even more!:

[PeriscopeDepth]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

That's because they planned to retire the B-1. Since Iraq and Afganistan however, military planners figured out what an asset this plane is. It carry's more bombs than any plane I know of - these planes in include the B-2 and B-52 - with 3 times the payload of a B-52 depending on what it is carrying!!! To a military planner, a single B-1 turned out to be a whole squadron of smaller fighters on the battlefield. So the 2001 decision to retire the B-1B was heavilly scaled back after it proved itself in our current wars.

This is where the B-1R comes from - military planners want even more capability. Seems like this plane can deliver, but I guess it always has to get past Congress eventually.

-S

PS. Here is the B-1B capacity for large JDAM's vs. other american bombers - notice that one single B-1 can carry more than 2x what a B-2 does, and 3x what a B-52 does! Now think what a B-1R would be like if it could carry even more!:

Interesting. Seems like it would be able to replace B-1 and B-52. And B-2 is useless, despite its stealthiness allowing it to operate independently...It never does. They simply don't want to risk something that expensive and always support the hell out of it with EW, SEAD, and fighter escort. So I wouldn't mind getting rid of those. B-1R seems to be made to operate with the Raptor.

I like it. Kinda reminds me of Dale Brown's Superfortress.

PD

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by PeriscopeDepth

Interesting. Seems like it would be able to replace B-1 and B-52. And B-2 is useless, despite its stealthiness allowing it to operate independently...It never does. They simply don't want to risk something that expensive and always support the hell out of it with EW, SEAD, and fighter escort. So I wouldn't mind getting rid of those. B-1R seems to be made to operate with the Raptor.

I like it. Kinda reminds me of Dale Brown's Superfortress.

PD

We need the B-2. No way around it. We won't have a first strike bomber capability in the future if we got rid of B-2. No way, not even a B-1R, could penetrate the air defenses of a country with a few bucks in it pockets come even tomorrow. The B-2 is the only bomber that can go in with the first wave. So if you have some major Command and Control to knock out in the opening moments of an engagement, B-2 is the only answer for the job. The B-1 is only good after the C3 and air defenses has been neutralized. Hence why B-1 was on the chopping block in 2001.

-S

[NEON DEON]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

I was not aware of this aircraft, but the B-1 may get an extended lease on life it may seem.

Boeing page on the B-1R:
http://www.boeing.com/ids/allsystems...2/story01.html

A short video I pulled on how it would be deployed in combat in the air to air role (this is how I first heard of it in the first place):
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v9988640b476AWQQ

So has anyone else heard of this new role for the B-1 program? I must be living in the dark ages since I never even knew this idea existed.

-S

On Friday night History channel did a bit on future dog fights.

In it they indicated that the Raptor was the first 5th generation fighter.

They played out a scenario with a squadron of 4 Raptors taking on a mixed bag of 4 th generation fighters.

After the Raptors took out the first wave of enemy fighters a second wave of about 20 showed up. The Scenario then switched from the Raptor to the B-1R as a missile platform with the Raptors providing intel on the approaching enemy force and the B-1R firing long range volleys of AMRAMs at the enemy as directed by the invisible Raptors. The Raptors then closed and switched to short range missles.

It was an interesting show.

The HC indicated that the B-1R was not operational at the time they did the show and was still in proposal mode and that the AMRAM missiles in the scenario were not due to be operational till about 2010.

One of the things that caught my attention were the B-1Rs will use the new Pratt and Whitney Super cruise engines allowing them to do 1,500 mph without afterburners like the Raptor. ZOOM ZOOM.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by NEON DEON

On Friday night History channel did a bit on future dog fights.

In it they indicated that the Raptor was the first 5th generation fighter.

They played out a scenario with a squadron of 4 Raptors taking on a mixed bag of 4 th generation fighters.

After the Raptors took out the first wave of enemy fighters a second wave of about 20 showed up. The Scenario then switched from the Raptor to the B-1R as a missile platform with the Raptors providing intel on the approaching enemy force and the B-1R firing long range volleys of AMRAMs at the enemy as directed by the invisible Raptors. The Raptors then closed and switched to short range missles.

It was an interesting show.

The HC indicated that the B-1R was not operational at the time they did the show and was still in proposal mode and that the AMRAM missiles in the scenario were not due to be operational till about 2010.

One of the things that caught my attention were the B-1Rs will use the new Pratt and Whitney Super cruise engines allowing them to do 1,500 mph without afterburners like the Raptor. ZOOM ZOOM.

Where do ya think I got the above video from? :p

I have the whole program.

-S

[NEON DEON]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

Where do ya think I got the above video from? :p

I have the whole program.

-S

Well I guess thats what the big H is in the corner of your video!