The cruise missiles under both wings are nuclear capable. Under the left wing appear to be AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missiles. In '07 the Air Force said they would be retired.
Posted on 01/14/2015 11:47:10 AM PST by smokingfrog
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Tuesday vigorously endorsed an Air Force plan to build a next-generation strategic bomber, arguing that it would help deter nuclear war and preserve America's global pre-eminence.
"I think the long-range strike bomber is absolutely essential to keep our deterrent edge as we go into the next 25 years," Hagel told reporters after addressing a group of several hundred airmen at this B-2 stealth bomber base in western Missouri.
Hagel later traveled to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, and also planned to visit Navy sailors aboard an aircraft carrier and Army soldiers in Texas this week.
He called the future bomber, estimated to cost $55 billion to $80 billion for as many as 100 planes, "a critical element" of U.S. global power.
The price tag is an issue, however, not least because the Pentagon says it also needs to modernize the two other elements of the strategic nuclear force: the Navy's fleet of Ohio-class strategic submarines and the Air Force's Minuteman 3 land-based nuclear missiles. The combined cost would exceed $300 billion, by current estimates.
Hagel noted that the 20 planes in the B-2 fleet — all based at Whiteman — are operating on 25-year-old technology. The other nuclear-capable plane in the bomber fleet, the venerable B-52, is even older.
Hagel's designated successor, Ashton Carter, is expected to win Senate confirmation in early February. Until then, Hagel will remain in office.
The Whiteman stop gave Hagel a chance to say farewell and to cap a series of visits over the past year to key parts of the nuclear weapons force.
(Excerpt) Read more at kpbs.org ...
B-1 was De-Nuclearized a while ago for arms control agreements.
Just as well, the SRAM-2 was never built which would have given it a little stand off range, which leaves only the cruise missile and gravity bombs for the nuclear role, neither of which was ideal for the B-1.
B-52 needed the standoff cruise missile to remain viable in an era of modern air defense systems, and the B-2 could plausibly penetrate close enough for the gravity bomb role it seems.
B-52 is still pretty cool though;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt4xxVyZvwM
I think there are only about 66 B-1s left operational.
The BUFF looks like it wants to kill you. Build more of ‘em.
Bingo
The cruise missiles under both wings are nuclear capable. Under the left wing appear to be AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missiles. In '07 the Air Force said they would be retired.
Uh... I don't think you're clear on the concept here...
Hey, the aircraft people, BOEING, can make money building the old bombers just as well, and probably more since they don’t have to do all the R&D in the process. The airframe is worthy, and has been for almost 70 years.....................
B-52 heavy metal pics
Thanks for the ping. I think the next generation strategic bomber may be unmanned.
I’ve heard that during WW2 we had quite a few unmanned fighter aircraft, they were flown by women, but not in combat.
I should have put up a sarcasm tag. I meant that waste is big business for government.
I knew you were being sarcastic. No need for a /s tag!................
LOL!
K
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