B1-B Bomber Lives On: Upgraded With Bomb Rack Unit & Targeting Pod

By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

(Washington DC) B1-B Lancer pilots often say few people fully understand the scope and importance of the bombing missions the aircraft has performed. The bomber’s success against the Taliban in Afghanistan seems much lesser known than its 1998 combat debut over Iraq in Operation Desert Fox.

During Operation Enduring Freedom, the B1-B dropped precision weapons, air-glide bombs, and also carpet bombed areas confirmed to be only concentrations of Taliban forces and not civilians.

While not a large fleet, the B1-B performed a very large percentage of the missions in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, as described in an interesting essay appearing in Globalsecurity.org.

B1-B: Aging Bomber at Full Steam

Although only 20-years old in terms of combat service, some are already wondering when the fleet of 92 B1-B bombers will fully retire, a question of significance to the Air Force plan for its future bomber fleet. Like other legacy aircraft, the B1-B lancer has received a number of extremely significant upgrades, including modifications to its weapons bay enabling it to carry hypersonic weapons.

As part of this weapons upgrade, the bomber has received a new Bomb Rack Unit, increasing the aircraft’s ability to carry 500-pound weapons by as much as 60 percent. Its internal weapons bay can now carry 40 bombs as opposed to merely 24.

The B1-B has also received a new Integrated Targeting Pod, which connects video feeds with other critical intelligence data as well as an upgraded Navigational technology called the Integrated Battle Station.

These technologies enable in-flight intelligence and targeting updates, and also gives pilots the ability to update navigational information more quickly as the combat environment changes.