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B-1B achieves triple munitions drop, target kill
Air Force Link ^ | 05/09/02 | Lt. Col. Mark Spillman, B-1B Program Office

Posted on 05/10/2002 7:54:15 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity

05/09/02 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- A B-1B Lancer crew successfully targeted three different weapon types against three separate targets in a single, 20-second bombing run on May 2 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

Part of a computer upgrade test program, the Global Power Bomber Combined Test Force crew released one MK-84, 2,000-pound bomb, three MK-82, 500-pound bombs, and four CBU-89, 1,000-pound cluster munitions. Each struck targets about 10,000 feet apart.

“Today marks a major test accomplishment,” said Lt. Col. Arnie Bunch, Global Power Bomber CTF director. “The team demonstrated conventional weapons flexibility without any glitches. As we add precision weapons to the mix, the B-1 warfighter should have unmatched strike capability long into the future.”

This is the first time in Air Force history an aircraft’s on-board weapon system used multiple weapon types against multiple, separated targets, automatically releasing munitions at the proper time and position in a single bomb run, Bunch said.

“This release accomplished what would typically require three aircraft passes or coordinated strike of three aircraft,” Bunch said. “Using this new capability, the Air Force will be able to dramatically decrease the number of assets put in harm’s way during future aircraft attacks.”

Considered a major program milestone, the demonstration is the first step in developing improved weapons flexibility for the B-1. In the next few weeks, the CTF will demonstrate further weapons flexibility by dropping precision and nonprecision weapons in a single run, Bunch said.

“This demonstrated weapons flexibility is a giant step forward in the B-1’s overall conventional mission upgrade program,” said Col. Mike Miller, B-1 system program director at the Aeronautical Systems Center here. “It puts the B-1 closer to fulfilling its role as the backbone of the bomber fleet as envisioned by the USAF Bomber Roadmap. The next critical step in this maturation is successful completion of the defensive system upgrade program, now in the early phase of testing.”

In 2003, testing will begin to integrate the Joint Standoff Weapon and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile. At the same time, new upgraded computer systems will be installed.

“Air Combat Command enthusiastically anticipates completion of the B-1 Block E program,” said Col. Gregory A. Feest, ACC deputy director of requirements. “As we transform the bomber fleet to be more responsive in striking targets, the B-1’s weapons flexibility will provide the joint force air component commander unparalleled strike options immediately, on-call.”


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: b1; lancer; miltech
We're always finding better and more efficient ways to kill Muslim scum and other undesirables. Let's roll!!
1 posted on 05/10/2002 7:54:15 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
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To: Miltech
Ping!!
2 posted on 05/10/2002 7:55:00 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
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The article also included a link to the B-1 fact sheet.
3 posted on 05/10/2002 7:58:45 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Would I ever be surprised if our Air Force said "eh, it's thirty years old and we'll make it really neat real soon..."
4 posted on 05/10/2002 8:02:37 AM PDT by AzJP
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity;4TheFlag
Bump-Ping!!!
5 posted on 05/10/2002 8:03:59 AM PDT by HiJinx
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
I thought that the B-1 had been relagated to reserve units now. Why upgrade a bomber that you are already beginning to phase out? I suppose it makes a great test platform for a computer system.
6 posted on 05/10/2002 8:19:53 AM PDT by maximus@Nashville
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To: maximus@Nashville
The Air Force was going to retire 30 of the approx. 90 B-1s out there and relegate the rest to reserve units. I'm not sure, but maybe that has all been put on hold since Sept. 11th. Even so, it's good to develope this weapons delivery system and put it on other aircraft if the B-1 is going out.
7 posted on 05/10/2002 8:28:12 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Two pictures of a B-1.

Air Force Pix

8 posted on 05/10/2002 8:48:30 AM PDT by stlrocket
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
INSERT GLOBAL POWER BOMBER TOKEN HERE ==>[|]
11 posted on 05/10/2002 10:31:47 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
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To: HiJinx
Thanks for the ping HJ!

A HUGE Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota BUMP!!!

Home of the B-1B Lancer Bomber


12 posted on 05/10/2002 6:06:14 PM PDT by 4TheFlag
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To: UKscot
Sorry to say the tooling for these aircraft is long since gone and destroyed!
13 posted on 05/10/2002 6:12:39 PM PDT by steve in DC
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To: steve in DC
What did post #9 say? It's gone now. Oh well...
14 posted on 05/12/2002 9:51:31 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
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