engine variable sweep wing jet powered heavy strategic bomber united_states_air_force envisioned 1960s bomber speed sufficient range replace boeing developed primarily low level long range speed capability high altitude commonly called bone originally designed boeing development delayed multiple times history changes perceived need manned bombers initial version developed early 1970s production canceled prototypes built need new platform surfaced early 1980s aircraft resurfaced version focus low level penetration bombing point development stealth technology promising aircraft dramatically improved capability production went ahead version operational spirit period increasingly vulnerable entered service sac nuclear bomber early 1990s following gulf war concurrent sac newly formed converted conventional bombing use served combat operation nato action following year supported nato military forces afghanistan iraq expected continue serve long range strike bomber start development background issued requirements new bomber combining range boeing maximum speed december selected proposal replace engine bomber reach speeds high altitude avoid aircraft effective anti bomber weapon 1950s soviet aircraft unable intercept high flying lockheed fly similar altitudes higher speeds combat expected simply fly right defenders late 1950s anti aircraft surface air missiles threaten high altitude aircraft demonstrated downing strategic air command sac aware developments begun moving bombers low level penetration downing tactic greatly reduces radar detection distances use terrain features terrain like hills valleys line sight radar bomber broken rendering radar human observers incapable seeing target somewhat higher altitudes radar systems era subject stray returns ground objects requiring minimum angle ground effective bombers flying low altitudes remain angles simply keeping distance radar sites combination effects era ineffective low flying aircraft effects meant low flying aircraft difficult detect higher flying aircraft radar systems readily pick opposing aircraft ground reflections lack look shoot capability switch high altitude low altitude flight profiles severely affected design highly tuned provide desired high altitude performance planners outlined series low level profiles higher aerodynamic drag low level limited speed dramatically decreasing range result aircraft somewhat higher speed range meant replace new low altitude role growing shift intercontinental missile force bomber program canceled president prototypes research program intended low level role flexibility allowed intended successor nature air war environment changed huge fuel load allowed operate lower altitudes longer times large airframe allowed addition improved radar deception deal radars vietnam war concept future wars nuclear turned head big belly modifications increased total bomb load pounds turning powerful tactical aircraft ground troops strategic targets high altitudes smaller bomb bay useful role design studies delays effective ideal low level role led number aircraft designs known tuned specifically long range low altitude flight designs operation fighter bomber variable sweep wings tactical missions similar aircraft emerged users notably later number studies strategic range counterpart followed post strategic study known low altitude bomber slab completed produced design looked like bomber large swept wing tail large high bypass engines followed similar extended range strike aircraft added variable sweep wing vogue aviation industry envisioned relatively small aircraft pounds range nautical miles kilometres nmi flown low altitudes august similar low altitude manned lamp design completed called aircraft pounds bomb load somewhat shorter range nmi culminated october advanced manned precision strike system led industry studies boeing north american revised requirements retitled project advanced manned differed primarily demanded high speed high altitude capability similar existing class given lengthy series design studies engineers joked new actually stood america studied aircraft arguments led cancellation program led question need new strategic bomber sort adamant retaining bombers nuclear concept included bombers submarine launched missiles combined package complicated potential defense argued bomber needed attack hardened military targets provide safe option bombers quickly launched safe areas attacked introduction mobility argument newer generation accuracy speed needed attack point targets time seen costly option based lower unit cost development costs higher secretary defense preferred bombers air_force portion force felt new expensive bomber needed limited program studies component development beginning program studies continued awarded advanced study contracts remained opposed program favor upgrading existing fleet adding nearly shorter range roles filled vetoed funding aircraft development program president richard_nixon program taking office keeping administration flexible response strategy required broad range options short general nuclear war nixon secretary defense reviewed programs decided lower numbers lacked desired range recommended design studies accelerated april program officially entry new bomber designation series created air_force issued request proposals november proposals submitted boeing north american january june north american design selected awarded development contract original program called test aircraft engines cut ground flight test aircraft company changed named aircraft division fourth prototype built production standards ordered fiscal year budget plans called built initial operational capability set design featured number features common 1960s designs use crew capsule ejected unit introduced improve case high speed additionally design featured large variable sweep wings order provide high lift takeoff landing low drag high speed dash phase wings set widest position aircraft considerably better lift power allowing operate wider variety bases penetration soviet_union defenses place speed crossing quickly possible entering defended speeds reduced large size fuel capacity design allow dash portion flight relatively long order achieve required performance high altitudes exhaust air intake ramps variable initially expected performance achieved low altitude required critical areas fuselage wing structure low altitude performance requirement later lowered reducing cost pair small mounted near nose active vibration system low altitude ride featured escape capsule ejected cockpit crew members inside fourth equipped conventional seat crew member review occurred late october prototype air_force serial flew december prototypes followed program continued unit cost continued rise high inflation period estimated unit cost million figure climbed million new problems cancellation soviet pilot defected japan described new super certainly referring look shoot radar order attack cruise missiles low level penetration aircraft visible easy attack given armament suite similar appeared likely survive soviet program increasingly questioned particular senator continually derided public arguing expensive dinosaur federal election campaign democratic_party platforms saying bomber example proposed system funded dollars carter took office ordered review entire program point projected cost program risen million aircraft lifetime cost years informed relatively new work stealth aircraft started decided better avenue approach pentagon officials stated cruise missile launched existing fleet equal capability penetrating soviet range miles launched outside range soviet defenses penetrate low altitude like bomber lower radar cross section size greater numbers lower cost small number launch hundreds defense program improve develop deploy cost price deploy planned june carter announced canceled favor fleet modernized armed carter called difficult decisions office mention stealth work public program secret today known early authorized project eventually led spirit domestically reaction cancellation split partisan lines surprised announcement internal expectations number ordered reduced congressman claimed breaking moscow contrast appears soviets concerned large numbers representing greater threat smaller number soviet news agency commented implementation plans seriously complicated efforts limitation strategic arms race western military leaders generally happy decision nato commander described attractive alternative french general stated formidable weapon terribly useful price bomber cruise missiles flight tests prototypes program continued april program included flights totaling hours speed reached second engine testing continued time engines totaling hours shifting priorities period soviets started assert new theaters action particular cuba starting soviet invasion afghanistan strategy point focused containing communism preparation war europe new soviet actions revealed military lacked capability outside narrow confines responded accelerating concept suffered major problems capability order slow enemy invasion countries air power critical key iran afghanistan border outside range carrier based attack aircraft leaving role range support demand global missions long runway requirements limited forward basing possibilities presidential campaign ronald_reagan campaigned heavily platform carter weak defense citing cancellation program example theme continued 1980s time carter defense secretary announced stealth bomber project apparently implying reason cancellation program taking office reagan faced decision carter continue short term wait development advanced aircraft studies suggested existing fleet remain credible threat predicted force survive attack targets introduction missile soviet airborne early warning systems increasingly vulnerable funds allocated new study bomber 1990s time frame led project evaluated possible solutions emphasis placed multi role capabilities opposed purely strategic operations believed operation covering transitional period increasing vulnerability introduction reagan decided best solution october reagan announced ordered fill role january awarded contracts worth combined billion development production new bombers numerous changes design better suited expected missions resulting new changes included reduction maximum speed allowed variable aspect intake ramps replaced simpler fixed geometry intake ramps newer design reduced version radar signature reduction radar cross section seen good trade speed decrease high speeds low altitude focus area revised design low level speeds increased maximum speed higher altitudes maximum takeoff weight increased pounds pounds weight increase allow takeoff internal fuel load external weapons carried engineers able reinforce critical areas non critical areas airframe increase weight minimal order deal introduction equipped new radar system aircraft look capability reduced low flying advantage electronic warfare suite significantly upgraded opposition plan widespread congress critics pointed original problems remained areas performance expense particular fitted electronics similar equally able avoid interception speed advantage minimal appeared interim time frame served decade rendered obsolete shortly introduction capable design primary argument favor large conventional weapon takeoff performance allowed operate credible wider variety airfields spread production congressional districts making aircraft popular radar testing rome air development center new_york modified include systems completed began flight testing march production rolled september flew october 100th final delivered delivered determined aircraft vulnerable soviet air defenses design overview blended wing body configuration variable sweep wing engines triangular fin control surfaces tail wings sweep degrees degrees forward sweep forward swept wing settings takeoff landings high altitude maximum cruise aft swept wing settings high flight variable sweep wings thrust weight ratio provide better takeoff performance allowing use previous bombers length aircraft presented problem air low altitude alleviate included small triangular fin control surfaces near nose structural mode control system automatically counteract smooth ride unlike reach speeds maximum speed mph altitude low level speed increased mph speed current version aircraft limited need avoid damage structure air help lower radar cross section uses air intake fixed intake ramps limit speed compared intake serve shield radar emissions highly reflective engine blades engine modified slightly produce emphasis increased efficiency core engine engine designs including seen use variants recent versions basis non spirit engine basis core extremely popular civil engine found versions practically small medium sized nose gear cover door controls auxiliary power units allow quick starts order scramble main computer space shuttle bomber computer programmed programming language offensive include forward looking offensive passive array radar set electronic beam steering fixed antenna pointed downward reduced radar synthetic radar ground moving target indication terrain following radar modes navigation radar navigation suite block upgrade added global positioning system gps receiver beginning defensive electronics include radar warning defensive equipment sets base wing rear facing tail tail radar linked total located canopy handled management system capacity world largest infrared weight pounds equipped carry aiding relatively low radar cross section technically stealth aircraft comprehensive sense thanks aircraft structure intake paths use radar material 50th similar sized roughly equivalent small fighter aircraft upgrades upgraded production beginning conventional mission upgrade program added new smart weapons interface enable use precision guided conventional weapons began block standard capability deliver non precision gravity bombs block brought improved synthetic radar upgrades fielded block provided enhanced capability delivery cluster bomb units sortie modifications bomb racks added near precision capability improved weapons targeting systems added advanced secure communications capabilities electronic upgrade added anti jam radios upgraded computers incorporated joint weapon joint air surface substantially improving bomber capability upgrades completed september block improve aircraft electronic capabilities canceled december cost schedule slips program began upgrade crew stations integrate data linking equipped flew july enables electronic data sharing eliminating need enter information systems hand january boeing delivered integrated battle station equipped replaced displays new multi function color display units upgraded newer june receiving block upgrades add link networking digital flight instrumentation sniper targeting pod integrated fleet pod mounted external aircraft chin near forward bomb bay following accelerated testing sniper pod fielded summer future precision munitions include air_force considering upgrading multiple racks carry times smaller currently february work began multi year upgrade scheduled completed vertical situation display upgrade shall replace existing flight instruments color displays second display shall aid threat targeting act display additional memory capacity installed database installation upgrades expected cost million research engineering costs estimated million additions replace spinning mass navigation system ring laser systems gps antenna replacement radar active array new attitude indicator operational history second star delivered sac june initial operational capability reached october placed nuclear alert status received official march bomber commonly called bone nickname appears stem early newspaper article aircraft spelled inadvertently omitted late engine fires led grounding fleet cause traced problems stage fan aircraft placed limited alert words grounded nuclear war broke following repairs returned duty beginning february fledgling conventional capability able drop pounds general purpose bomb low altitude despite cleared role problems engines prevented use gulf war primarily reserved strategic nuclear strike missions time providing role airborne nuclear soviet_union suited role conventional warfare coalition forces instead originally designed strictly nuclear war development effective conventional bomber delayed collapse soviet_union brought nuclear role question leading president ordering billion conventional refit sac establishment developed greater conventional weapons capability development start additional bomb wings created fighter wings converting aircraft mid-1990s employ weapons end 1990s advent block upgrade boasted array guided munitions longer carries nuclear weapons nuclear capability disabled removal nuclear hardware conventional role combat support operations iraq operation december employing weapons subsequently operation allied force notably operation enduring freedom afghanistan invasion iraq role operation allied force criticized aircraft enemy defenses suppressed aircraft like older intended replace deployed array conventional weapons war zones notably pounds months operation enduring freedom dropped percent aerial ordnance including munitions heavily iraq notably april unsuccessful attempt kill sons height iraq war permanently airborne provide rapid precision bombardment important targets intelligence identified operation enduring freedom able raise mission capable rate higher speed compared older intended replace holds world records speed distance time climb different aircraft weight classes november set long distance record aircraft demonstrated ability conduct extended mission lengths strike world return base stops recognized completing memorable record flights built remained losses accidents june pentagon sought place fleet storage proposal resulted officers members congress lobbying proposal including drafting amendment prevent cuts proposal intended allow money diverted upgrades remaining computer modernization accompanied removal bomb wings decided retire aircraft concentrate budget maintaining availability remaining new appropriation bill called retired aircraft return service returned seven bombers service increase fleet aircraft july associated_press reported growing presence iraq including close hand platform support coalition ground forces iraq afghanistan armed role surveillance purposes ready deliver guided bombs support ground troops contacted underwent series flight tests mix synthetic petroleum fuel march texas aircraft fly speed synthetic fuel flight texas new_mexico conducted ongoing air_force testing certification program reduce reliance traditional oil sources august flew sniper advanced targeting pod equipped combat sortie crew successfully targeted enemy ground forces dropped guided bomb afghanistan march attacked undisclosed targets libya operation odyssey dawn service september split squadrons organized 7th bomb wing texas 28th upgrades viable air force service approximately despite upgrades repair cost issues flight hour needs hours repair fuel repairs needs hour mission costs cost flight hour june senior officials met consider retiring entire fleet meet budget cuts pentagon plans supplement aircraft beginning meantime capabilities particularly suited vast distances unique challenges pacific region continue invest rely support focus pacific president obama pivot east asia august 9th expeditionary bomb squadron returned month tour afghanistan flew sorties squadron single deployment squadron spent hours airborne having bombers air times accounted quarter combat aircraft sorties country averaged requests air support day september participated maritime evaluation exercise deploying munitions laser guided bombs joint direct attack munitions long range anti ship missiles aim detect engage small craft existing weapons tactics developed conventional warfare ground targets seen useful asset maritime duties patrolling shipping lanes beginning syrian civil war august january accounted percent sorties operation inherent resolve deployed july support missions afghanistan air campaign began august unit iraq syria squadron dropped bombs months support forces defending city bombs period killing fighters went winchester dropping weapons board times deployment dropped sixth month rotation 28th flew sorties dropped munitions targets month deployment february sent cockpit upgrades organizational realignment announced april aircraft reassigned effective october variants original design variable engine speed prototypes built production units manufactured revised design reduced radar signature speed low level penetration total produced proposed upgrade existing aircraft regional fitted advanced radars air air missiles new engines variant speed shorter range existing external modified allow multiple conventional weapons carried increasing overall air air defense active array radar added existing modified carry air air missiles needed escape unfavorable air air encounters speed aircraft currently capable sustained speeds operators united_states united states air force strategic air command air force global strike command present 7th bomb wing texas 9th bomb squadron present 13th bomb squadron 28th bomb squadron present 28th 34th bomb squadron present 37th bomb squadron present bomb squadron texas present 57th wing nevada weapons squadron present bomb wing combat crew training squadron bomb wing grand 46th bomb squadron wing mountain home idaho 34th bomb squadron bomb wing kansas 28th georgia bomb wing kansas present flight test squadron test wing flight test squadron aircraft display wings denver colorado strategic air command museum near nebraska aircraft conventional seats features variant star linear air park texas aircraft delivered home active air force wings idaho wheels wells air force base home active air force wings air force base kansas air_force base air force base georgia base aircraft sixth produced delivered bomb wing texas march aircraft arrived september previously home wings renamed midnight train georgia april utah hill performs depot level maintenance entire fleet spit fire near main gate air force base oklahoma aircraft suffered flight engine failure led grounding fleet boss national museum united_states_air_force near ohio displayed museum cold war gallery replaces display accidents incidents lost accidents crew members people board killed accidents crashes august stalled crashed performing minimum control speed tests low altitude crew escape capsule leave bomber deployed causing capsule hit nose impact killed pilot test pilot seriously injured crew members september combat crew training squadron crashed near colorado flying low level training route crash occur crew members aboard crew members jump seats crew members seats perished root cause accident thought bird strike wing leading edge low level flight impact severe fuel hydraulic lines aircraft engines functioned long allow fleet later modified protect supply lines november crashed near texas fire broke left engines crew members successfully ejected aircraft november 28th 37th crashed short runway adverse weather crew members ejected successfully november 7th texas flying low level training flight crashed mountain near texas members crew killed cause attributed pilot error september 28th 37th flying crashed miles north montana members crew killed review board found bomber struck ground pilot error performing defensive maneuver training february 7th texas crashed near kentucky fire detected cockpit instrument panel shut aircraft power crew members able rescued safely december 28th 37th lost indian_ocean crew members successfully ejected rescued bomber flying route long range combat mission afghanistan crew declared flight emergency pilot captain attributed crash multiple causing bomber control water depth structural data collector black box recovered cause positively determined aircraft recently returned routine combat mission returning island lost combat operations april lost hydraulic power crashed concrete barrier caught fire crew safely evacuated aircraft carrying bombs time detonate aircraft destroyed august crashed remote area near montana crew members survived aircraft crashed report found crash mechanical failure leading fuel leak explosions accidents notable incidents october texas forced emergency landing edwards air force base suffering flight failure hydraulic system required use system deploy landing gear nose gear failed deploy crew attempted lower nose gear alternate emergency gear extension method hours attempting different means lower nose gear decision perform nose gear landing lower portion forward bulkhead mount radar antenna aircraft suffer damage repairs jet returned january crew performed emergency landing october flying training route eastern colorado 28th bomb squadron experienced explosion engines reached power fire aircraft left spotted engine shut fire activated accident investigation determined engine suffered catastrophic failure engine blades cut engine mounts engine detached aircraft december texas experienced caused engine shut fire event coupled october engine incident led day grounding nuclear alert status problem eventually traced problems stage fan equipped modified engines june 7th emergency divert germany wing sweep malfunction crew high speed landing stopped feet short end runway afterward brakes led fire right main landing gear quickly extinguished september extensively damaged fire landing air force base guam investigation incident concluded leaking hydraulic fluid sparks wheel caused fire start aircraft right main landing gear touched resulting fire damaged right wing engine airframe landing gear leading estimated repair cost million 7th texas landed gear recovery hour ferry flight island resulting fire quickly extinguished crew escaped hatch minor injury pilot air force investigation concluded crew forgot lower landing gear based following reasons pilot task pilot wanting complete long mission pilot completed landing pilot belief pilot lowered landing gear pilot turned control pilot final approach pilot reported base landing gear indicator lights showing landing gear working apparently ignored result impacted slid runway caused approximately million damage aircraft runway specifications data pace lee noted general characteristics crew aircraft commander offensive systems officer defensive systems officer internal external ordnance combined length wingspan extended swept height wing area weight loaded weight max takeoff weight powerplant augmented dry thrust lbf thrust lbf fuel capacity optional gal fuel tank internal weapons bays performance maximum speed altitude mph altitude low level mph altitude range nmi combat radius nmi service ceiling wing loading thrust weight armament external pounds ordnance use weapons restricted arms treaties internal bomb bays pounds ordnance bombs air air general purpose bombs low drag general purpose bombs sea mines general purpose bombs naval mines wind corrected munitions gps guided bombs gps guided bombs mounted multiple racks mounted multiple racks small diameter bomb gps guided bombs fielded surface missile nuclear bombs longer carried forward looking offensive passive array radar radar warning receiver defensive equipment defensive management system sniper advanced targeting pod optional notable appearances media
Rockwell B-1 Lancer