A B-1B Lancer releases a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile during an external release demonstration. Credit: USAF / Ethan Wagner.

The US Air Force’s (USAF) 419th Flight Test Squadron (FLTS) has carried out an external weapon release demonstration with a B-1B Lancer bomber.

The release demonstration was conducted in the skies over Holloman Air Force Base (AFB) in New Mexico.

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Air Force Test Center commander major general Christopher Azzano said: “The Air Force Test Center is enthusiastically teaming with the Air Force Global Strike Command to enable greater flexibility in bomber payloads.

“Demonstration of B-1B external carriage reflects the potential to keep weapon systems in the fight with increased combat capability.”

During the demonstration, the B-1B Lancer released an inert Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) from an external pylon underneath its fuselage.

This demonstration of the release is said to put the Air Force Global Strike Command closer to the construction of future bomber fleet for the US Department of Defense and the USAF.

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Air Force Global Strike Command commander-general Tim Ray said: “Arming a limited number of B-1s with more weapons externally, could enable Global Strike Command to provide more weapons for Geographic Combatant Commanders while putting fewer aircraft and aircrew in harm’s way.

“Airmen continue to rise to the challenge, modernising, adapting and innovating the fleet we have while bridging to the fleet of the future.”

The demonstration is said to showcase the possible weapon configurations that can be installed on the B-1B.

Last month, A USAF B-1B Lancer bomber conducted an external captive carry flight over the Edwards AFB in California.

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