USAF Evaluating New Way For B-1s To Carry Hypersonic Weapons

The U.S. Air Force, prompted by congressional action, is evaluating if the Rockwell B-1B Lancer can become the primary aircraft for hypersonic weapon testing, and the service has to work around roadblocks on the swing-wing bomber that it put in place decades ago.

The service is evaluating the Boeing-developed Load Adaptable Modular (LAM) pylon to carry large, heavy hypersonic weapons so the B-1 can take the test load off the busy B-52 fleet. The pylon will be carried on the B-1’s hardpoints. However, the service deactivated those as part of the New START Treaty, which required the service to stop flying nuclear weapons on the Lancer’s eight hardpoints. 

“Everything’s been gutted. There’s no more wiring going out there. We actually stuffed stuff in there so you couldn’t put a pylon in … and we’ve had to work around” says Joe Stupic, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s (AFLCMC) senior material leader for the B-1. “There’s still this structure where we can put a pylon … but there’s no more wire, no more power, no more cruise missile control box. It’s all ripped out.” 

The Air Force has performed ground testing and vibration testing, and dropped Joint Direct Attack Munitions from the new pylon to test. It has also hung a GBU-72 Advanced 5K penetrator bomb on the pylon to represent the large size and heavy weight of a hypersonic weapon, such as the AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon.

The goal is to do engineering and development to see if hypersonic testing is a viable capability, focusing on the pylon that Boeing developed using internal funding. It will ultimately be an Air Force decision if there is an actual operational use for the B-1 to carry hypersonic weapons. At this point, the program is solely focusing on the test mission, says Brig. Gen. William Rogers, AFLCMC’s program executive for bombers.

The service has demonstrated other methods of carrying the weapons, including a 2020 external captive-carry of a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile on a forward hardpoint that typically carries a targeting pod. There have also been tests to carry the munitions internally. 

There is no set date for the Air Force to retire the B-1 and B-2 fleets as it brings on the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider. Instead of the 2018 Bomber Vector plan, the service is now focusing on a “bomber capability road map,” Rogers says. This focuses on AFLCMC working with Air Force Global Strike Command and the Air Staff to use resources as they become available to invest in keeping B-1s and B-2s operationally relevant. 

The B-52 is in the early stages of a massive overhaul, including outfitting new engines, a new radar and digital cockpit. Rogers says the service expects to reach a Milestone B decision on the Commercial Engine Replacement Program this fall.