Free Republic

The U.S. Air Force faces a strategic nightmare with its B-1B Lancer bomber fleet. The aging but still capable supersonic bomber is becoming increasingly obsolete, yet its replacement, the B-21 Raider, is still years from being operational. This creates a dangerous capability gap. The Pentagon is weighing difficult options: a costly modernization of the B-1B, which may not be enough; relying on other platforms like the B-52, which can’t match the B-1B’s speed and payload; or accelerating the B-21 program, which risks delays and technical setbacks.

The Air Force sees external pylons as key to increasing the B-1's ability to launch standoff strikes ahead of the arrival of the B-21 Raider. ================================================================ The U.S. Air Force is moving ahead to add new external pylons onto its B-1B Lancer bombers after years of experimentation. The pylons will enhance the B-1’s already significant ability to carry large and diverse payloads, with a particular eye toward future hypersonic weapons. It is also a hedge against potential delays in the arrival of stealthy B-21 Raiders, which are set to replace the remaining Lancers. In its recently released proposed budget for...