New Upgrades Could Allow The B-1B Bomber To Carry 40 Missiles (Up From The Present 24)

The test B-1B with mockup JASSM missile mounted on an external pylon. U.S. Air Force photo by Giancarlo Casem

Popular Mechanics: The B-1B Bomber Could Bulk Up on Long-Range Weapons

Two proposed upgrades will allow the bomber to carry nearly 50 percent more missiles.

New upgrades could allow the B-1B bomber to carry 40 more missiles, up from the present 24.
The upgrades would also allow the bomber to carry a hypersonic weapon.
While an improvement, only 7 B-1B bombers are currently ready for action.

As strategic competition with Russia and China increases, the Air Force wants to max out the B-1B’s ability to carry not just more, but larger and more advanced weapons. According to FlightGlobal, the Air Force recently showed off an upgraded B-1B to partners in industry.

The bomber, belonging to the 412th Test Wing, includes an improved middle bomb bay expanded from 15 feet to nearly 22.5 feet. That’s large enough to carry a future hypersonic weapon. Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds of Mach 5 and above, giving enemy forces little time to react.

Read more ....

WNU editor: Here is the bad news .... only 7 B-1B bombers are currently ready for action.