Long Range Bombers
| B-1B Lancer | ||
B-1B taking off during Operation Allied Force. |
Conceived as a strictly nuclear bomber, the B-1B has now adopted a conventional mission over and above the nuclear penetration role. |
The cockpit is practically laid out, with key systems sensibly positioned. |
Loading the bombs is a slow process unless separate teams are loading all three weapons bays simultaneously. |
A B-1B dropping a stick of retarded Mk 82 bombs, fitted with AIR tails. |
A B-1B Lancer being prepared for a mission with a payload of Mk 82 bombs. |
The B-1B is equipped with four F101-GE-102 turbofan engines. |
The B-1B is highly manoeuvrable and its fighter-like agility is paramount for low-level penetration. |
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| B-2 Spirit | ||
The B-2 can respond from domestic US bases to conflicts anywhere in the world within hours. |
The B-2 is considered the most survivable aircraft ever built. |
B-2s have successfully released bomb shapes from the rotary launcher and conventional weapons from bomb-rack assemblies. |
The aerodynamic design of B-2 incorporated computational fluid dynamics (CFD). |
Flight testing has encompassed 100% of the air refuelling envelope with the KC-135 and KC-10 tankers. |
The Fire and Ice nose-art prominently displayed on a B-2. |
The cockpit is equipped with a colour, nine-tube, electronic flight instrumentation system (EFIS) |
Northrop Grumman has delivered over 20 B-2's to the US Air Force. |
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| B-52H Stratofortress | ||
The B-52H Stratofortress. |
The B-52H has a weapons payload of more than 70,000lb. |
The nuclear weapons capacity includes 12 ACMSs, 20 ALCMs and eight bombs. |
A B-52H based at RAF Fairford being loaded with AGM-86C CALCMs. |
A clip of eight ALCMs on the internal rotary launcher. |
In the cockpit, EVSs on the crew's consoles are used for low-level missions. |
B-52G carrying AGM-142 Raptor missiles. |
An AGM-86B cruise missile similar to those launched from B-52H bombers. |
The aerial refuelling operation usually takes place soon after take-off. |
| Tu-160 Blackjack | ||
Tu-160 in-flight refuelling. |
Maximum flight speed at high altitude for the Tu-160 is 2,000km/h. |
Operational flight range with maximum combat mode is 10,500km. |
The engines are installed in two pods under the shoulders of the wing. The air intake incorporates an adjustable vertical wedge. |
The Tu-160 Blackjack will be upgraded to improve Russia's long-range bomber fleet, which includes the TU-22 Backfire (pictured). |
The Tu-160 launching aKh-55SM cruise missile. This missile is currently undergoing a modernisation programme. |
A Ukrainian Tu-22M3 long-range bomber, part of theTupolev Aircraft family. |
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| Tu-95 Bear Strategic Bomber | ||
The Tu-142 Bear F anti-submarine patrol aircraft. There are an estimated 20 Tu-142M (Bear F mod 2) anti-submarine warfare aircraft in service with the Russian Navy. |
Overhead view of the Tu-95 Bear strategic bomber. The aircraft is an all metal construction, large high-performance aircraft with a distinctive high aspect ratio all swept wing, swept at 30°. |
An F-15C Eagle from the 12th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base escorts a Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber named 'Mozdok' during a Russian exercise. |
The Tu-95 Bear strategic bomber is currently in service in both the Russian Air Force Naval Aviation and Russian Air Force Air Army units, and with the Indian Air Force. |
The Tu-142 Bear J aircraft. 12 Tu-142MR (Bear J) submarine radio relay aircraft in service with the 240th GvUAP naval air base at Ostrov and with the 310th OPLAP naval air base at Mongokhto. |
A Tu-95 Bear H aircraft escorted by a US Air Force F-15 Eagle aircraft. The Tupolev aircraft regularly made long-range patrols near NATO and US airspace up to the end of the Cold War. |
A Tupolev Tu 95 Bear escorted by a F/A-18 Hornet. The Tu-95s were designed and built at the Tupolev Joint Stock Company Aviation Plant in Moscow. |
A close-up view of a Tu-95 Bear aircraft tail showing the tail gunner and 23mm gun turret. |
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