To reduce the work required to modify the USAF's B-52s, another 'Cold War' bomber, the B-1B 'Lancer,' is also being modified to test hypersonic missiles.
“Everything’s been gutted. There’s no more wiring going out there. We actually stuffed stuff in there so you couldn’t put a pylon in … and we’ve had to work around” says Joe Stupic, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s senior material leader for the B-1. “There’s still this structure where we can put a pylon … but there’s no more wire, no more power, no more cruise missile control box. It’s all ripped out," he added.
However, work is in progress to reverse this. For example, the USAF has already conducted ground and vibration testing using the towers and dropped Joint Direct Attack Munitions from them. For example, the aircraft has been fitted with a GBU-72 Advanced 5K penetrator bomb to simulate the weight and size of a hypersonic weapon, like the AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon.
There are also some other options being considered by the USAF too. In 2020, for example, The USAF demonstrated an external captive-carry of a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile on a forward hardpoint that is usually used for a targeting pod. They have also tested carrying the munitions internally within the B-1B.However, the USAF has not decided on a specific date to retire the B-1 and B-2 fleets as they introduce the Northrop Grumman B-21 "Raider.
México Últimas Noticias, México Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Inside the ‘factory of the world,’ there is still a corner untouched by machinesWhat would it be like to walk across the world? Nat Geo Explorer Paul Salopek has been on a 13,000 mile foot journey over the last 10 years, in the footsteps of our ancestors. And he has another 12,00 miles to go. Video by John Stanmeyer
Leer más »
Pokémon TCG Japan’s Ruler Of The Black Flame: Charizard Secret RaresHave you managed to pull one of the three highly covered Charizard ex Secret Rares from PokemonTCG Japan's newest set, Ruler of the Black Flame? Pokemon
Leer más »
The big flaws in Newsom’s 28th Amendment planIn short, the big flaws in Newsom’s plan for a 28th Amendment are the fact it would not get through Congress and that it could facilitate a hyper-destructive and divisive constitutional convention.…
Leer más »
AI-powered artillery could bring down costs, preserve environmental data, expert saysThe greater precision and range would reduce the number of missiles required for attacks, bringing down the costs of production and improving their overall performance.
Leer más »