The B1-B program heightened the favor of U.S. strategic capabilities during the Cold War. It answered the needs of the USAF request for a supersonic strategic bomber capable of infiltrating and exfilling enemy airspace before a response could be generated. The B1-B today serves as both a psychological weapon and as critical asset in the fight against terror and affiliated groups. The B1-B is a work horse and is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons systems to anywhere on the globe. There are even cases of B1s flying from stateside to Afghanistan and back on a single arieal refuel confirmed by varrious USAF sources. In my opinion the B1-B would be a welcomed edition to this sim and the IF skies.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Long-range, multi-role, heavy bomber
Contractor: Boeing, North America (formerly Rockwell International, North American Aircraft); Offensive avionics, Boeing Military Airplane; Defensive Avionics, EDO Corporation
Power plant: Four General Electric F101-GE-102 turbofan engine with afterburner
Thrust: 30,000-plus pounds with afterburner, per engine
Wingspan: 137 feet (41.8 meters) extended forward, 79 feet (24.1 meters) swept aft
Length: 146 feet (44.5 meters)
Height: 34 feet (10.4 meters)
Weight: approximately 190,000 pounds (86,183 kilograms)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 477,000 pounds (216,634 kilograms)
Fuel Capacity: 265,274 pounds (120,326 kilograms)
Payload: 75,000 pounds (34,019 kilograms)
Speed: 900-plus mph (Mach 1.2 at sea level)
Range: Intercontinental
Ceiling: More than 30,000 feet (9,144 meters)
Armament: 84 500-pound Mk-82 or 24 2,000-pound Mk-84 general purpose bombs; up to 84 500-pound Mk-62 or 8 2,000-pound Mk-65 Quick Strike naval mines; 30 cluster munitions (CBU-87, -89, -97) or 30 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispensers (CBU-103, -104, -105); up to 24 2,000-pound GBU-31 or 15 500-pound GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions; up to 24 AGM-158A Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles; 15 GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions
Crew: Four (aircraft commander, copilot, and two combat systems officers)
Unit Cost: $317 million
Initial operating capability: October 1986
Inventory: Active force, 62 (test, 2); ANG, 0; Reserve, 0
Data provided by https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104500/b-1/
