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From: newave!john@uunet.UU.NET (John A. Weeks III)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: B-1s in the Gulf
Message-ID: <1991Jan23.033110.836@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 23 Jan 91 03:31:10 GMT
References: <1991Jan19.033121.66@cbnews.att.com> <1991Jan21.033124.29056@cbnews.att.com>
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From: newave!john@uunet.UU.NET (John A. Weeks III)

> From: yun@eng.umd.edu (Dragon Taunter)
> waylancm@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Legion) writes:

> > Someone(I don't remember who...didn't save the article) asked why B-52s
> > are doing all the carpet bombing instead of B-1s.

> > Well, B-1s ARE supposedly capable of doing the conventional mission. I say
> > supposedly because as I recall, they got grounded (again) about a month
> > ago. . .

> According to a recent Nova episode it was said that B-1s are grounded
> until some crucial piece of software is delivered.  Right now they are
> gathering dust in their hangars.

Can you provide more details on this?  I would assume that any episode
of Nova that is shown in the USA is at the very least several months out
of date.  There were early development problems with the B-1's, and some
of the electronic warfare systems are still having development problems,
but the B-1 is an operational system.  They are not sitting in hangers, I
have recent (2 month old) photos of 24 B-1's lined up at Dyess AFB in Texas,
with several being preped for missions.

As of about 1 month ago, the fleet of B-1's were grounded for an engine 
fire problem.  Rather than risking planes that cost $100-million each,
they have been grounded.  If there is any need for the B-1's, you can be
sure that they will fly with the current problems.  I would be very
surprised if SAC does not have B-1's that are ready for scramble.

The most likely reason that B-1's are not flying in the gulf is that
we have two missions (US strategic defence, and bombing Iraq), and two
planes that are available for that mission (B-1, B-52).  Since the B-1
is best suited for US strategic defense, and the B-52 is not, and the
B-1's capabilities are not needed in the Gulf, and the B-52's are based
near Iraq, it is no surprise that only B-52's are being used in Iraq.
This is a case of matching the plane to the mission.

-john-

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