The B-1 bomber should be able to carry other weapons in addition to hypersonic missiles. This makes the aircraft significantly more combative.
The B-1 “Bone” bomber is to be used for the further development of hypersonic weapons by the US Air Force. According to aircraft manufacturer Boeing, a new external load station, called LAM (“Load Adaptable Modular”), will be installed under the B-1 bomber, which is designed for 3,400 kilograms and can also carry hypersonic missiles. This is what rockets are called that exceed 5 times the speed of sound.
B-1 statt B-52
So far, the B-52 has been used for testing hypersonic missiles. The Air Force assigned 8 B-52s to test engines, radar, weapons and other updates. This modernization work on the B-52 is the reason why they want to switch to the B-1 for hypersonic tests, according to the US Air Force.
The Air Force currently plans to retire its remaining B-1 bombers by 2036 and switch to the new B-21 Raider stealth bombers. The updated B-52 jets, on the other hand, should remain in service until at least 2050.
Technical problems with airborne hypersonic missile
Boeing’s proposal represents a significant departure from the US Air Force’s earlier hypersonic plans, which envisaged using the B-52 as a test vehicle for hypersonic missiles. The B-52 was about the only aircraft capable of testing with the AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW). The ARRW was intended to be the Luftwaffe’s first operational airborne hypersonic missile. After some technical problems and several major bugs, the project is scheduled to be canceled after the end of the current round of testing.
As Boeing manager Jennifer Wong explained in US media, Boeing itself saw the need for the Air Force to test newer, heavier weapons. However, it was known that “there was a lack of financial resources at the time,” which is why Boeing developed the external load station on its own, Wong said.
Swiss army knife under the external load stations
Boeing built 4 external load stations, but expects an order to build more soon. The unit was designed to be quickly reconfigured to carry a variety of new weapons.
The first external load station has already been delivered to the US Air Force and installed on a B-1. “It’s undergoing ground testing right now,” Wong said. Tests with dummy weapons are also to be carried out in the summer.
The bomber trio B-52, B-1 and B-2 (from left to right).
© USAF
In theory, the B-1 bomber could be equipped with 6 such load stations, each capable of carrying 2 hypersonic missiles. The plane has the take-off capacity to lift the heavy loads, Wong says. The B-1 can thus remain in action longer and in turn relieve the B-52.
Weapons from other manufacturers are also possible
However, the load stations can also be equipped with other weapons, such as 48 small-diameter bombs. In addition, a B-1 can carry 3 internal bombs.
The previous tests have also aroused the interest of other “weapons suppliers”, as the manager says. There are companies that have spoken about a possible integration of their weapons and testing them on the B-1. Boeing said it was not averse to allowing weapons from other manufacturers.
