The intensity of the Russia- Ukraine conflict shows no signs of dropping.
The Ukrainian government has urged people in Russian-occupied southern areas of the
country to evacuate “by all possible means” in advance of a Ukrainian military offensive
as Moscow’s forces were described as creating a
“true hell” in Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland, officials said.
The governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Haidai, said on Saturday that Russian forces
had deployed 20 mounted, mortar and rocket attacks in the province overnight
and Russians were pressing towards the border with neighboring Donetsk.
In the meantime, an interesting development has taken place.
U.S. Air Force B-1 bombers integrated with Ukrainian fighters for the first time ever.
On Friday, the U.S. Air Force announced that its B-1B Lancer bombers from Ellsworth Air Force Base,
South Dakota, flew throughout Europe and the Black Sea region.
A Ukrainian Su-27 Flankers and MiG-29 Fulcrums escorted two B-1B Lancers
from the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base during a joint exercise.
In this video Defense Updates analyzes why American B-1B
bombers conducting long-range strategic Bomber Task Force missions
escorted by Ukrainian fighters is a powerful message to Russia?
Let's get into the details.
Gen. Jeff Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander, said,
“Bomber Task Force missions to Europe demonstrate commitment to our allies and partners
all while providing a clear deterrence message to any adversary. The integration of our strategic
bomber presence across Europe proves that the U.S., alongside any ally or partner,
stands ready to deter, and if needed, can employ these capabilities together.”
The flight also included integration and interoperability training
with Polish F-16s and MiG-29s and Romanian F-16s and MiG-21s,
which provided escort and combat patrol overwatch in the Black Sea region.
A KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, Turkish and U.S.
KC-135s based out of Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, and other NATO aerial refueling
aircraft enabled the B-1 to complete the round trip from Ellsworth Air Force Base without delay,
while also providing aerial refueling support to our partner-nation aircraft. Additionally,
the B-1s integrated with Greek F-16 air policing for an overflight of Skopje, North Macedonia.
Gen. Tod D. Wolters, U.S. European Command commander, said,
“The Bomber Task Force missions demonstrate to our NATO Allies, including our newest member – North
Macedonia – that these strategic missions enhance the readiness and training necessary to respond to
any potential crisis or challenge around the globe. “The integration and interoperability
with our NATO Allies during these missions, be it aerial tanker support or fighter escorts,
are indelible actions that show the Alliance is as strong as I’ve ever witnessed.”
Bomber missions familiarize aircrew with air bases,
airspace, and operations in different geographic as well as build proficiency and confidence.
B-1B is a supersonic variable-sweep wing, heavy bomber used by the United States Air Force.
The B-1B is powered by 4 General Electric
F101-GE-102 after-burning turbofan engines. Each of these can generate 17,390 lbf
(77.4 kN) thrust when operating normally and 30,780 lbf (136.9 kN) with afterburner.
The B-1B is a bomber with the capability to fly at a supersonic speed
topping out at roughly Mach 1.25. It also has stealth features for improved survivability.
The design enables B1B to have an excellent range of 5,900 mi or 9,400 km and a service ceiling of
60,000 ft. The engine performance makes B-1B capable of hauling a lot of weapons.
B-1B has a massive payload of 125,000 lb or 56,700 kg of internal and external ordnance combined.
It has 8 external hardpoints for 50,000 pounds or 23,000 kg of ordnance and
3 internal bomb bays for 75,000 pounds or 34,000 kg of ordnance.
Depending on the mission B-1B can carry a variety of ammunitions like Mk- 84 general-purpose bombs,
CBU-87/89/CBU-97 Cluster Bomb Units, GBU-38 JDAM
In a contested environment, B-1B combat jets will depend on long-range missiles to strike
targets without getting inside the rival's engagement envelope.
B-1B will deploy AGM-158 JASSM, AGM-158B JASSM -ER and AGM-158C LRASM.
B-1B is a lethal platform.
For example, each B-1B can carry 24
AGM-158C missiles and a pair of these can take out the Russian Black Sea fleet.
AGM-158C is developed as an anti-ship variant of AGM-158 and is named LRASM by the U.S Navy.
The missile is subsonic and but since it is LO (Low Observable), the enemy warship will not see
it coming till it is very close. The missile uses an inertial
and jam-resistant GPS navigation system for the initial phase of the journey,
a two-way data link is present for mid-course guidance and a radio-frequency & Infra-Red sensor
is activated in the terminal phase. LRASM also deploys electronic
counter-countermeasures (ECCM) to overcome the enemy’s countermeasures.
The missile can be deployed in swarm mode which will enable it to saturate enemy defenses.
So, a B-1B escorted by Ukrainian fighters is surely a statement.
Also, it is to be noted that Ukraine is able to send fighters for this mission in
itself shows that Russia has not done well when it comes to air dominance
since we all know Russian Air Force had a 10:1 advantage against Ukraine at the
beginning of the hostilities and was supposed to crush the Ukrainian Air Force within days.