Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnews!cbnews!military From: jln@elaine31.stanford.edu (Jared Nedzel) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: B-52, B-1, B-2, and F-14 in Des. Storm Message-ID: <1991Jan22.013317.17132@cbnews.att.com> Date: 22 Jan 91 01:33:17 GMT References: <1991Jan21.033250.29291@cbnews.att.com> Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker) Organization: Stanford University - AIR Lines: 76 Approved: military@att.att.com From: jln@elaine31.stanford.edu (Jared Nedzel) In article <1991Jan21.033250.29291@cbnews.att.com> ccc@anomaly.SBS.COM (Cole Calistra) writes: }From: ccc@anomaly.SBS.COM (Cole Calistra) }Hello, } After listening to many (many) news reports on Desert Storm, I thought }up a few questions that only the military gurus here could answer for me. } }1. I have not heard any mention of the B-1B, or the B-2 Stealth Bomber } being over in Saudi Arabia, or any of our staging areas. Are there } in fact any of them over there? If not, why not? Wouldn't the B-2 } be even BETTER suited than the F-117 for night bombing under the Stealth } radar avoidance? The B-2 is a *prototype*. I believe we have 2 that are currently flyable. They have not been completely tested. I believe that the electronic systems are not complete in number 1 or 2. I assume that the B-2 is more stealthy than the F-117. Whether or not that would make it more suitable for the missions in Iraq is questionable. The B-2, after all, was designed to carry nukes, not Mk-82s. The B-2 is in development and is in no way ready to go to war. Loss of one of the prototypes could set the program back a year or more. Trying to be polite, I'll say that sending a B-2 prototype would be a thoroughly BAD idea. } Wouldn't the B-1B be better for carpet bombing than } the B-52 since it's faster, or are they not in service yet? The B-52s seem to be doing just fine. I assume they're staying at high altitude (the Iraqi's have few long-range SAMs). At that altitude, I doubt there is a great difference in speed between the B-52s and the B-1B (both are subsonic). I'm not sure which has the larger bomb load (which is, I think, more important to this mission than speed). Another factor is our willingness (or reluctance) to risk our latest strategic weapons in a war that it appears we can win without too much trouble. In these circumstances, risking the compromise of such strategic systems would be irresponsible, IMHO. }2. Is the SR-71 still in service in Turkey as was reported in sci.military } (or should I say rumored) bacak in July and August? I think anyone who could answer this sort of question won't. }3. Can the F-14 be used as a bomber, if necessary? Either way, are there } any other armaments besides the Sidewinder, Pheonix, Sparrow missles, and } the cannon that would work or fit on the F-14? What is the F-14's main } role in Desert Storm since the engagement of Iraqi planes has been } limited at best? Is it just CAP and escort for the bombers that are there? Because 15 Iraqi planes have been destroyed in air combat so far (according to the pentagon) and because many Iraqi planes seem to be in tact, I believe that CAP and fleet defense are still needed. Grumman has been working on clearing the F-14a+ for dropping bombs, but the F-14a is not qualified to do so. }4. Are the Canadian CF-18's able to be dual role attack and fighter planes } like the US F/A-18's are? Yes. The Canadian govt. has said that the CF-18s are now being used for CAP into Iraq. Previously, they'd been used for fleet defense. } Cole Calistra UUCP: ...rayssd!anomaly!ccc -- Jared L. Nedzel --------------------------------------------------------------------- e-mail: nedzel@cive.stanford.edu jln@portia.stanford.edu