Usaf & Ussf Almanac 2020
USAF & USSF ALMANAC 2020 WEAPONS & PLATFORMS By Aaron M. U. Church Bombers 112 Fighter/Attack 114 Special Ops 117 ISR/BM/C3 121 Tankers 128 Airlift 131 Helicopters 135 Trainers 137 Targets 138 RPAs 139 Strategic Weapons 140 Standoff Weapons 141 Air-to-Air Missiles 142 Air-to-Ground Weapons 143 Space/Satellite Systems 148 Mike Killian Mike 110 JUNE 2020 AIRFORCEMAG.COM BOMBER AIRCRAFT William Lewis/USAF William Master Sgt. Matthew Plew Sgt. Matthew Master B-1B LANCER B-2 SPIRIT Long-range conventional bomber Long-range heavy bomber Brief: The B-1B is a conventional, long-range, supersonic penetrating strike Brief:The B-2 is a stealthy, long-range, penetrating nuclear and conven- aircraft, derived from the canceled B-1A. The B-1A first flew on Dec 23, tional strike bomber. It is based on a flying wing design combining LO with 1974, and four prototypes were developed and tested before the program high aerodynamic efficiency. Spirit entered combat during Allied Force was canceled in 1977. The Reagan administration revived the program on March 24, 1999, striking Serbian targets. Production was completed as the B-1B in 1981, adding 74,000 lb of useable payload, improved radar, in three blocks, and all aircraft were upgraded to Block 30 standard with and reduced radar cross section, although speed was reduced to Mach AESA radar. Production was limited to 21 aircraft due to cost, and a single 1.2. Its three internal weapons bays can each carry different weapons, B-2 was subsequently lost in a crash at Anderson, Feb.
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