An illustration from 1985 or before showing the weapons loads that the B-1B could carry. Note the row of weapons on middle-left: 38 AIM-54 Phoenix air-to-air missiles. Presumably this was meant to show that the B-1B could serve as a flying “picket ship,” spending extended durations orbiting some area – borders, or perhaps maritime patrol – and ready to unleash long-range whoopass on Soviet bomber or fighter fleets. A less likely possibility is that the B-1B could serve as an “escort fighter” for other B-1’s as they penetrate deep into Soviet territory. This idea was tried in WWII with the YB-40 and the XB-41 “escort bombers,” with bombs removed and additional machine gun emplacement added; results were dismal. Thus I doubt the “B-1 Escort Bomber” concept. But if anybody knows for sure, feel free to speak up.
7 Responses to “B-1B Bomber as a fighter”
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I note the photo also shows a lot of Harpoon missiles, and what looks like either nuclear depth bombs or anti-submarine homing torpedoes (next to the SRAMs).
Were they trying to get the Navy interested in it as some sort of long range maritime patrol bomber like the Russians were so fond of?
In the escort role it would have been pretty formidable; able to sweep an area clear of fighters over a radius of 100+ miles for the bombers following behind it, and maybe even being able to deal with long-range SAMs like the SA-5 “Gammon”.
To do that, I assume it would have come in at fairly high altitude to maximize its detection abilities and missile intercept range, while the main bomber force followed behind it at lower altitude, so as to be less detectable.
Could this be considered a predecessor to Boeing’s B-1R proposal?
Unlike the WW2 escort bomber concepts, I’d say that 34 Phoenix AAM would be extremely capable in that role.
hi-res
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higher res pics
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>Unlike the WW2 escort bomber concepts…
They failed for a couple reasons:
1) After the bombers dropped their bombs, they got a lot lighter, and thus faster. But the escort bombers didn’t have that sudden weight loss, and would often be ntably slower than the bombers they were still supposed to defend
2) A lumbering bomber armed with extra machine guns isn’t *that* big of a threat to zippy little fighters. What really threatens fighters are other fighters. Once the P-51D showed up on the scene, the escort bomber idea looked pretty silly.
The Phoenix-armed B-1 would likely share problem 1, but I’m not so sure about 2. Missiles can do wonders against fighters.
Nice pic.
Sorry, but it’s not a phoenix. It’s obviously a (nuclear) falcon. Probably GAR-9/11 variant.