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Irrespective of structural or other issues with the B-1B it makes up the bulk of the conventional strike fleet. By 2030 the newest will have been in service for 40 years. How many 40 year old airliners are flying in revenue service today? No shame if it's retired once it's capability is migrated to a different platform in my opinion. General Ray who commands the Global Strike Command has asked Asst. Sec. Will Roper for a low cost stand-off bomb truck. This may end up being the B-1B replacement:[URL unfurl="true"]https://breakingdefense.com/2019/12/ray-asks-roper-to-explore-bomb-truck-for-cheap-standoff-capability/[/URL]As for the difference in payload between the B-2 and the B-21 how may nuclear strikes can a bomber realistically make before the crew and or airframe are in-operable? Can you deliver 16 nukes to 16 aim points and survive without running out of fuel, damage from near misses or incapacitating the crew from radiation exposure? I would think range is more important than payload in nuclear strikes. The bottom line however is the price of admission to the Super Power club. Folks grouse over the costs of maintaining the military aircraft fleets and weapons but if you want to be a super power you need to pony up. Maintaining 67 B-52H's, 66 B-1B's and 20 B-2A's is the price of admission either we're in the game or we are not.
Irrespective of structural or other issues with the B-1B it makes up the bulk of the conventional strike fleet. By 2030 the newest will have been in service for 40 years. How many 40 year old airliners are flying in revenue service today? No shame if it's retired once it's capability is migrated to a different platform in my opinion.
General Ray who commands the Global Strike Command has asked Asst. Sec. Will Roper for a low cost stand-off bomb truck. This may end up being the B-1B replacement:
[URL unfurl="true"]https://breakingdefense.com/2019/12/ray-asks-roper-to-explore-bomb-truck-for-cheap-standoff-capability/[/URL]
As for the difference in payload between the B-2 and the B-21 how may nuclear strikes can a bomber realistically make before the crew and or airframe are in-operable? Can you deliver 16 nukes to 16 aim points and survive without running out of fuel, damage from near misses or incapacitating the crew from radiation exposure? I would think range is more important than payload in nuclear strikes.
The bottom line however is the price of admission to the Super Power club. Folks grouse over the costs of maintaining the military aircraft fleets and weapons but if you want to be a super power you need to pony up. Maintaining 67 B-52H's, 66 B-1B's and 20 B-2A's is the price of admission either we're in the game or we are not.
