A close-up tour of a B-1B Lancer nuclear bomber inside and out

@DefAviation ES 7·11·2023 · 21:51 0

The Rockwell B-1B Lancer is one of three types of nuclear-capable US Air Force (USAF) strategic bombers.

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Of those three types of bombers (the other two are the B-52 and the B-2), the B-1B is the only supersonic, since it is capable of reaching a maximum speed of Mach 1.25 (1,543 km/h). In B-1B it made its first flight in 1974 and entered service in 1986. 104 Lancers were built and currently 45 remain in service in the USAF, divided into six squadrons (five bombardment squadrons and one test).

The B-1B is an aircraft with variable geometry wings, that is, the angle of its wings adapts to the speed of the aircraft, a characteristic that it shares with other aircraft of its time , such as the American F-14 Tomcat and F-111 Aardvark and the Soviet MiG-23, MiG-27 and Su-17. A spectacular feature of the B-1B is that it has three bomb bays in its fuselage with a capacity for 34,000 kg of bombs or missiles (the B-52 only has one bay and the B-2 has two) . These holds can be equipped with rotary launchers. In addition, it has six external supports in which it can load 23,000 weapons.

The B-1B has a total of four crew members: the pilot and the commander sit in the front seats, and behind them sit the offensive systems officer and the defensive systems officer. They each sit in an ejection seat. In addition, you can carry two more crew members in folding seats.

A month ago, Erik Johnston posted a very long video (almost 2 hours and a half in 4K format) in which members of the 34th Bombardment Squadron "Thunderbirds", based at Ellsworth AFB (South Dakota), and a sergeant from the 28th Ammunition Squadron show the exterior and interior of the plane, as well as its arsenal of bombs and missiles. It is one of the best reports on the net about this exceptional aircraft:

You can see below some captures of the video. What you see here is a Sniper XR AN/AAQ-33 target designator. It is used to identify targets, track them, generate GPS coordinates for the B-1B's weaponry, and guide bombs with a laser guidance system.

One of the B-1B's weapons bays. Specifically, this is bay number 2. Each of these bays can accommodate up to 28 Mk-82 conventional bombs, 10 CBU-87 cluster guided bombs (and other types), 8 JDAM GBU-31 GPS-guided bombs, 8 AGM-154 or AGM-158 JASSM conventional cruise missiles, 8 AGM-69 SRAM, B-61 or B-63 nuclear bombs, or 8 AGM-86B nuclear cruise missile missiles.

Here we see hold number 1, located just behind the crew cabin. In this case it is equipped with an additional fuel tank.

One of the front seats of the B-1B, occupied by the commander and the pilot of the plane. The video shows in great detail some of the systems they handle.

One of the rear seats, occupied by systems officers. Specifically, this is the starboard seat, occupied by the offensive systems officer.

Here we see some of the conventional bombs that the B-1B can carry. On the right we see two GBU-31 JDAMs, GPS-guided bombs weighing 910 kg each. They are ideal bombs to penetrate bunkers. On the right we see a CBU-103 cluster bomb, weighing 431 kg and guided by GPS. Each CBU-103 carries 202 BLU-97/B submunitions (they are like little bombs). Its main function is to destroy airstrips and formations of enemy vehicles.

Here we see an AGM-158C LRASM conventional anti-ship missile​ (black in color). It weighs 1,250 kg and has a 453 kg warhead. The target missile is a replica of a conventional AGM-158 JASSM cruise missile. It weighs 1,021 kg and carries a 450 kg warhead.

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Main photo: U.S. Air Force. A B-1B Lancer from the 34th Bombardment Squadron at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota.