Recently, tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated again, and in retaliation for the attacks of Iranian-backed militant groups on U.S. forces in the Middle East, the United States dispatched B-1B hussar strategic bombers, which took off from the U.S. mainland and crossed the North Atlantic, 20,000 kilometers round trip, bombing multiple targets in Syria and Iraq.
The airstrike attracted widespread attention from the international community, not only because it involved the complex situation in the Middle East, but also because it demonstrated the great strength of the US Air Force, especially the amazing performance of the B-1B bomber.
So, what exactly are the features and advantages of the B-1B bomber that allow it to perform such a difficult task?
Let's take a look.
The B-1B bomber is a supersonic strategic bomber of the United States Air Force, a modification of the B-1A bomber, which entered service in 1985.
The B-1A bomber was a high-speed high-altitude infiltration bomber developed by the United States in the 1970s in response to the threat of the Soviet Union, but for technical and political reasons, only 4 were produced and later canceled.
On the basis of the B-1A, the B-1B bomber has made a series of improvements, mainly to increase stealth performance, reduce flight speed, increase bomb load and range, and adapt to the tactical requirements of low-altitude penetration.
The main task of the B-1B bomber is to carry both nuclear and conventional strikes and can carry various types of ammunition and missiles, including nuclear weapons, cruise missiles, guided bombs, etc.
The B-1B bomber is a strategic bomber with a powerful weapon system and bomb-carrying capabilities, which can carry various types of conventional and nuclear weapons against different types of targets.
The B-1B bomber is equipped with three internal weapons bays and six external hard points, with a total bomb load of up to 60 tons.
The internal weapons bay can carry a variety of guided bombs, cruise missiles, and air-to-surface missiles, such as the GBU series of bombs and the AGM-158 JASSM missile.
The external hard point can carry a variety of mines, cluster bombs and air-launched cruise missiles, such as Mk 62 mines and AGM-86B missiles.
The B-1B bomber's weapons system also includes advanced radar, electronic warfare equipment and defense systems that can improve its ability to search, identify and strike ground targets, as well as detect and jam enemy threats.
The B-1B bomber can also link data with other aircraft and ground forces to achieve information sharing and cooperative operations.
The B-1B bomber's weapon system and bomb-carrying capability make it a long-range strike weapon for the U.S. Air Force, which can carry out nuclear and conventional strikes, and can deliver all-weather, all-round strikes against ground targets.
The electronics and defense system of the B-1B bomber included the following aspects:
Radar system: The B-1B is equipped with the AN/APQ-164 multifunctional passive phased array radar (PESA), which is the world's first airborne phased array multifunctional attack radar to enter service, mainly used for navigation, penetration and weapon delivery tasks, with high-resolution SAR terrain mapping capabilities, as well as automatic terrain following and terrain avoidance functions, which can avoid hitting mountains or being detected by radar when flying at low altitude and high speed.
Electronic warfare systems:
The B-1B is equipped with the ALQ-161 electronic countermeasures system, which is capable of detecting, analyzing, jamming and deceiving enemy radars, missiles and aircraft, and improving its own survivability.
In addition, the B-1B is equipped with the ALE-50 towed false target and chaff with tracer jamming system for protection against the offensive of radar-guided and infrared-guided missiles.
Defense System:
The B-1B is equipped with an AN/ASQ-184 automatic cannon system, consisting of two M61A1 20mm six-barreled rotary cannons and a fire control system, capable of self-defense against incoming enemy aircraft.
The cannon of the B-1B can fire at enemy aircraft under the control of the pilot, or in automatic mode, based on data from radar and infrared sensors.
The variable sweep wing of the B-1B strategic bomber is a technology that automatically adjusts the angle of the wing according to the flight speed and altitude, which can improve the stability, maneuverability and range of the aircraft.
The principle of a variable sweep wing is that when the aircraft is flying at low speeds, the wings are deployed, increasing lift and reducing the speed and distance of take-off and landing. When the aircraft is flying at high speeds, the wings are swept back, reducing drag and increasing flight efficiency and speed.
The wing of the B-1B bomber can vary from 15 degrees to 67.5 degrees to suit different flight modes.
For example, when the B-1B performs a low-altitude penetration mission, the wings are swept back to the maximum angle to achieve the maximum speed and the lowest radar reflection area. When the B-1B performs high-altitude cruising missions, the wings are extended to a minimum angle to save fuel and increase range.
The variable swept wing of the B-1B bomber is an advanced flight technology, making it a flexible and versatile strategic bomber.
The flight speed of the B-1B bomber depends on the flight altitude and wing angles.
According to different sources, the B-1B has a maximum flight speed of 1.2 horse-riffs (1,470.1 km/h) or 1.25-horse-riff (1,528.5 km/h) and a maximum range of 9,400 km (without air refueling) or 11,998 km (with air refueling).
The flight speed and range of the B-1B bomber were somewhat lower than that of the B-1A bomber, because the B-1B, in order to reduce the radar reflection area, changed the shape of the air intake, which led to a decrease in the thrust and efficiency of the engine.
The flight speed and range of the B-1B bomber are also affected by the load of its weapons, and in general, the heavier the load, the lower the speed and range.
The B-1B bomber has a maximum armament load of 59,000 pounds (26,762 kg), and in this case, its effective combat range is 7,600 km.
In the sequence of strategic bombers of the US Air Force, the B-1B bomber is called the "Three Musketeers" along with the B-52 strategic bomber and the B-2 Phantom stealth strategic bomber, and is an important role in the implementation of the US military strategy.
The B-1B bomber has participated in many major military operations, such as the Gulf War in 1991, Operation Desert Fox in 1998, the Kosovo War in 1999, the Afghanistan War in 2001, the Iraq War in 2003, and the Libyan War in 2011.
So why did the US Air Force send B-1B bombers to bomb Syria and Iraq this time?
This has to do with the contradictions between the United States and Iran.
Iran is an important political and military force in the Middle East, and its relations with the United States have been tense, especially on the nuclear issue.
In 2015, Iran reached an Iran nuclear deal with the United States and six other countries, restricting Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions on Iran.
However, in 2018, US President Donald Trump announced his withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and reinstated severe sanctions against Iran, which led to the collapse of the Iran nuclear deal.
Since then, the conflict between the United States and Iran has escalated, and the two sides have launched a series of military confrontations in the Middle East, including drone attacks, missile attacks, assassination operations, etc., causing multiple casualties and property damage.
Iran also poses a threat to U.S. interests and allies in the Middle East by supporting armed groups such as Allah in Lebanon, Shiite militias in Iraq, and Houthis in Yemen.
A U.S. military base in Jordan was attacked by drones, killing three U.S. soldiers.
The United States blames Iranian-backed armed groups for the incident, but Iran denies it.
In retaliation for the attack, the United States decided to strike at Iran's forces in Syria and Iraq, dispatching B-1B bombers to carry out air strikes.
According to the U.S. Central Command, the airstrikes targeted a total of 85 targets, mainly targeting the Quds Force and related militia groups supported by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the facilities included command and control centers, radar positions, ammunition depots, drone depots, intelligence centers and corresponding logistics support facilities.
The U.S. Air Force dispatched two B-1B bombers to participate in the airstrike, which took off from Deiss Air Force Base in Texas, USA, flew over the Atlantic, reached the Middle East, bombed targets in Syria and Iraq, and then returned to the continental United States.
The total distance of the flight reached 20,000 kilometers and the total time reached 15 hours, which was a very difficult task.
This air raid showed us the amazing performance of the B-1B bomber, which is not only capable of flying fast and far, but also capable of carrying a large number of weapons to deal a fatal blow to the enemy.
Its engine and comfort are world-class, allowing it to complete missions in extreme environments and make pilots feel safe and comfortable.
The engine of the B-1B bomber is the F101 type, which is a turbofan engine developed by General Electric in the 70s of the last century, with a maximum thrust of 136.9 knewtons and a maximum speed of Mach 2.2.
This engine features a variable geometry intake tract and a variable geometry fan that automatically adjusts the shape of the intake tract and fan according to the flight altitude and speed to maintain optimal efficiency and performance.
The reliability and durability of this engine is also very high, and it can operate for a long time in a high-temperature and high-pressure environment without the need for frequent maintenance and replacement.
The comfort of the B-1B bomber is also top-notch, its cabin is sealed and pressurized, which can maintain a certain air pressure and temperature, so that the pilot does not need to wear a pressurized suit and does not feel hypoxic and cold.
The cabin of the B-1B bomber is also equipped with some living facilities, such as toilets, microwaves, refrigerators, coffee machines, etc., which can give pilots some opportunities to rest and eat during long flights.
The cabin of the B-1B bomber also has some entertainment equipment, such as stereos, televisions, game consoles, etc., which can give the pilot some ways to relax and have fun in his free time.
Through this air attack, we can see that the B-1B bomber is a very advanced and powerful strategic bomber, which is not only capable of performing long-range strike missions, but also able to provide pilots with a very good flight experience.
Its engine and comfort are world-class, allowing it to complete missions in extreme environments and make pilots feel safe and comfortable.
Of course, the B-1B bomber is not perfect, it also has some shortcomings and limitations, such as its stealth performance is not as good as the B-2 bomber, its maintenance cost is relatively high, its life is relatively short, and so on.
However, none of this affects its important position in the US Air Force, which remains an important pillar of US military strategy and an important means for the United States to demonstrate its strength and will to the world.
So, what do you think of the B-1B bomber, and do you think it's a very good aircraft?
You are welcome to leave a message in the comment area and discuss with me. If you like this article, please also like and share it so that more people can see it. Thank you for reading and see you next time.
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