Posted on 06/20/2025 7:08:16 AM PDT by Red Badger
They can remove nuclear capability as with the B-1, but I seriously doubt we would ever FMS a heavy bomber.
https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104500/b-1b-lancer/
The United States eliminated the nuclear mission for the B-1 in 1994. Even though the Air Force expended no further funding to maintain nuclear capabilities, the B-1 was still considered a heavy bomber equipped for nuclear armament until 2007. The conversion to conventional only began in November 2007 under the original START treaty and was completed in March 2011 under the New START treaty. To make that conversion possible, two steps were taken:
During the first step a metal cylindrical sleeve was welded into the aft attachment point of each set of B-1 pylon attachments. This prevented installing B-1 Air Launched Cruise Missile pylons.
During the second step two nuclear armament-unique cable connectors in each of the B-1 weapons bays were removed. This prevented the pre-arm signal from reaching the weapons.
Like so many of the munitions upon which Israel depends on the United States, they should build their own. They should be able to take a 747 or a 767, used in order to save some money, and modify it to carry bombs. And they should build their own version of the GBU – 57 and produce it in quantity. Similarly, they should build factories to make laser-guided bombs and artillery shells, both of which have been in very short supply, and both of which were held up by the Biden administration. I know that they are in the middle of a war right now so they can’t just drop everything and start up these facilities, but they need to do this sooner rather than later.
ISWYDT
Israel has quietly ramped up all kinds of weapons production, with plans for an *eight-fold* long term increase, along with deals with India for manufacture of Israeli-designed weapons.
A friend of mine is a retired USAF Cold-War B-52 pilot. Besides being 85 years old, deaf with a bad back and knees, I’m sure he’d be glad to sign up.
I’d convert a B727 or MD88. Strip the cabin of seats, overhead bins, closets and lavs. At altitude over the target, have the pilots go on oxygen and depressurize the plane. Drop the rear air stair and roll out a big beautiful bomb.
Sounds like your friend would be just the right ornery and pissed off guy for this mission…just gotta keep him coffee’s up so that he doesn’t take a nap at a critical moment. 😜
Damn, that’d be a funny scene in a spoof movie.
I sure hope so - and that the reliance on India is only temporary, until they can build some underground factories of their own that won’t be vulnerable to conventionally-armed ballistic missiles.
We’ve got one on display at what used to be Griffiss Airforce Base in Rome, NY. The guys are over there now doing maintenance on the display after a tornado came through the area last July.
They have some smart guys over there. Find a used L-1011 and modify it
CALL KALITTA AIR CARGO
Trump shpuld loan them one for a test drive first before they spend the money on one.
You try on shoes before you buy them.
You drive a car before you buy (usually).
A B-52 should be no different: kick the tires, check the oil, drop a few bombs.................
Indeed check if ALL the doors work.
Israel has 747 civilian aircraft and freighters. How long would it take to modify it and install pylons on the wings to carry two of these beasts? Perhaps the electronics needed on the mother aircraft are a problem. I have no idea. A C130 can carry this but not get to great altitude that is necessary to give the perpetrator the kinetic energy it needs. A 747 can, with minimal fuel for the mission, 3000 mile round trip is easy. The passenger load of a full 747 is about the same as two of those 30,000 penatrators. The mission length is about 3000 miles and thus much less fuel would be needed and thus very high altitude on release and much kinetic energy.
What has always puzzled me is our use of steel in these deep penatrators as opposed to tungsten carbide. The majority of this weapon is steel by weight. Tungsten carbide is twice the weight of steel and strong, we used it for drill bits in oilfield drilling. It is strong and heavy. Perhaps at impact speeds it could become brittle and shatter. I do not know. Odd things happen with metals properties at ultra high speed impacts and pressure.
30,000 penatrators should read as “30,000 pound penatrators.”
Welp. That aged well.
😁.............................
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