US Strategic Bomber Aviation in Modern Warfare
Before the advent of ballistic missiles in the US Army missiles land-based and submarine-launched missiles, the main role in establishing the world domination of the USA, creating a threat to the security of its opponents - the USSR and the countries of the socialist commonwealth, was played by heavy bombers of the SAC Air Force. They were the main means of delivering nuclear strikes on strategically important enemy targets.
According to the Pentagon, it is the strategic bomber aviation (SBA) is the most universal component of the nuclear triad, capable of effectively solving a wide range of tasks in all types of wars and military conflicts using both nuclear and conventional weapons. It is designed to deter a potential enemy and destroy its critical targets during military operations using both conventional and nuclear weapons.
The leadership of the US Armed Forces rightly believes that The main advantages of the US Air Force strategic bombers include:
– significant flight range and duration, allowing operation in almost any region of the globe when based on the continental United States;
– flexibility of use due to the possibility of setting new combat missions already during the flight;
– large and multi-variant combat load, including equipping the security forces with high-precision aviation weapons;
– on-board equipment and weapons that allow you to hit targets with high reliability day and night in any weather conditions.
In general, in accordance with the views of the Pentagon leadership, strategic bombers (SB), being one of the elements of ensuring nuclear deterrence, remain an important means of solving problems when conducting combat operations using both conventional and nuclear weapons.
US Air Force Global Strike Command and preparing the SBA to carry out their assigned missions
In accordance with the strategy adopted by the White House, a war against an enemy of equal strength (Russian Federation/China) can begin with a surprise nuclear strike by the forces of combat service and combat duty of the triad from a tracking position when these forces are in combat mission areas (CDA). This provision constitutes the main content of an instant nuclear strike carried out without additional deployment of strategic offensive arms. Such a blow is delivered within 60 minutes. It then develops into a rapid global strike (GSA) against the enemy lasting 90–120 minutes.
Organizing such strikes requires clear coordination of the actions of forces and military command and control bodies in such a multifaceted scenario of combat operations covering global spaces and involving colossal forces, carrying out activities within a tight time frame, constrained by conditions of secrecy, and a huge amount of work to disguise one’s intentions and misleading the enemy.
Therefore, in order to coordinate combat operations (BA) and organize interaction between the forces participating in the strike, the Pentagon at the end of 2008 decided to create a Global Strike Command (GSC) within the US Air Force. In June 2009, the direct formation of this command began, which by September had already reached the initial level of operational readiness. KSU headquarters is located at Barksdale Air Force Base (Louisiana).
This is probably what the US Air Force Global Strike Command command post looks like
The Global Strike Command (GSC) included two main components of the American nuclear triad - ground, in the form of ICBMs in the silo (20th Air Force), and air, which included the SBA (8th Air Force). The new command was given responsibility for the safe handling of nuclear weapons located on ICBMs and SBAs, as well as for the preparation and training of personnel to operate them and related equipment.
If ICBMs played a leading role in the first two echelons of the BGU, then in the third and fourth echelons of the global strike, the role of the first violin was given to SBA aircraft.
Thus, according to the Pentagon’s plans, in the third echelon of the BSU, SBA aircraft should strike the command posts of state and military command and control bodies, RTV radars, air defense missile systems radars, space control system radars, communication centers, permanent deployment points and command posts of other troops. As a rule, 1–2 nuclear warheads are prescribed to defeat such targets.
The targets of strikes by SBA aircraft (together with TA and PA) of the fourth echelon of the BSU identified critical state infrastructure facilities in the operational depths of the Russian Federation. Such objects include: enterprises of the military-industrial complex; strategic industrial enterprises; the most important nodes of sea, river, aviation and railway transport; regional government bodies; main power plants, gas and petrochemical industry facilities, etc. Both nuclear and conventional weapons can be used here.
Flight missions and strike targets, even in peacetime, are communicated to the SBA forces, consolidated into the 8th Air Army of the US Air Force KSU.
Let's take a closer look at the composition of the 8th Air Force, which is part of the US Air Force.
Currently, the 8th Air Force of the US Air Force is armed with three types of strategic bombers: B-52H, B-1B, B-2A. The available SB are organizationally consolidated into aviation wings and are stationed at the following air bases (AvB):
– AFB Barksdale (Louisiana), 2nd Heavy Bomber Wing (B-52H aircraft);
– AFB Minot (North Dakota), 5th Heavy Bomber Wing (B-52H aircraft);
The heavy strategic bomber B-52N leaves for a combat training mission
– AVB Dyess (Texas), 7th Heavy Bomber Wing (B-1B aircraft);
– Air Force Base Ellsworth (South Dakota), 28th Heavy Bombardment Wing (B-1B aircraft);
B-1B supersonic bomber at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar
- AFB Whiteman (Missouri), 509th Heavy Bombardment Wing (B-2A aircraft).
Stealth bomber B-2A "Spirit"
In total, the 8th VA is armed with more than 100 strategic bombers (about 87 B-52H and 20 B-2A), capable of carrying approximately 850 nuclear warheads, of which: 528 are deployed on ALCMs equipped with W80 nuclear warheads, and 322 nuclear aerial bombs (YAB) types B61-11, B61-12(13) and B83-1.
Officially, according to the START-3 Treaty, 16 B-2A and 44 B-52H aircraft are listed as carriers of nuclear weapons in the US Air Force. But in fact this is far from the case.
The Yankees found at least three ways to circumvent the treaty to increase the number of nuclear weapons carriers at the expense of “non-nuclear” strategic bombers (SB). And for this they have significant opportunities.
As of 2023, the KSU Air Force has 141 strategic bombers in service: 76 B-52N Stratofortress, 45 B-1B Lancer and 19 B-2A Spirit. In addition, another 18 B-52Hs are located with the 307th Heavy Bomber Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, from the 10th Air Force Reserve Command. There are also about 80 units in storage. SB, of which about 13 B-52H and 4 B-1B can be brought into combat-ready condition relatively quickly.
The combat use of SBA requires serious logistical, airfield, combat and technical support. For this purpose, up to 300 transport and refueling aircraft of the Air Force Airlift Command and Air National Guard units may be involved.
Boeing KS-135A Stratotanker tanker aircraft
The US Air Force strategic aviation has developed airfield network. In addition to the main air bases on the American continent, 16 airfields of US allies in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region are used for the temporary basing of the security forces. If there is a threat of an attack on home bases, up to 50 airfields in the continental United States and Canada can be used to disperse SBA aircraft.
Information: in peacetime conditions, the US Air Force security forces are stationed at 16 air bases, of which 8 are located in the United States and 8 in other countries. In the Pacific and Indian Ocean zones and in the European theater of operations, 16 airfields can be used for temporary deployment of security forces. The dispersal of duty forces in the context of an increasing military threat and transfer to the highest levels of combat readiness is planned to be carried out at 35 airfields. An additional 11 airfields in Canada can be used as reserve airfields.
Parking of B-52H aircraft at Fairford AB, UK
In addition, after completing the task, it is possible to land the SB at airfields located in Asia and Africa. These airfields are already being actively developed in peacetime. Thus, up to 15 units are deployed at the Al-Udeid airbase (Qatar) on a rotational basis. SB B-1B, which monthly make about 75 sorties in the direction of the southern borders of the Russian Federation.
All this is part of the airfield support system for the SBA aircraft fleet and the training of flight crews to perform tasks from various runways of foreign air bases.
Measures to maintain SBA in the established degree of BG. Combat duty and combat readiness system of the SBA
The US Air Force has: 20 SB B-2A (19 units - as part of the KSU and 1 unit - as part of the Air Force Logistics Command. Of the combat-ready forces, 4 B-2A aircraft are in active reserve) and 76 units. B-52H, which can be used as nuclear weapons carrier aircraft.
In accordance with US Air Force standards, about 75% of the combat strength of the SBA is maintained in combat readiness. Active reserve aircraft (about 20% of the combat strength) contribute to maintaining the percentage of combat-ready forces in the Security Council air units. Active reserve aircraft are maintained in good condition and are ready to replace combat aircraft in the event of their loss or during repair or maintenance work. It takes about 14–16 hours to prepare one active reserve aircraft for a combat mission.
According to Western experts, out of approximately 500 nuclear warheads and 528 nuclear ALCMs, about 300 nuclear warheads and nuclear ALCMs are ready for combat use, which are stored in warehouses at three air bases (Minot, Whiteman and Barksdale). The remaining 700–800 units (“operational storage”) are located at the central Air Force warehouse – Kirtland Air Force Base (New Mexico).
Nuclear ammunition W80-1 before installation on the carrier
SBA combat duty and combat readiness system
To maintain the operational readiness of the SBA forces, a combat duty system is used and a system of combat readiness of the forces of the KSU Air Force has been introduced. Thus, combat duty of SBA crews can be at the airfield and in the air, in the form of patrolling along a specific route.
SB combat duty in the air organized with the aim of early withdrawal of part of the SBA forces from attack and reducing flight time to combat areas. It can also be organized when the international situation worsens or when a crisis situation arises and can be carried out along 6-7 routes. Since 1968 (after a number of disasters and accidents of the SB with nuclear weapons on board the SB), combat duty in the air was stopped. Since September 1991, XNUMX-hour SB combat duty at airfields in peacetime conditions, but when the US Air Force is brought to increased levels of BG, it can be resumed within 24 hours.
Probable combat patrol routes of the US Air Force SBA / “Giant Spear” program
The US Air Force adopted a five-speed combat readiness system (additionally there are two more stages in case of emergency). The transfer of SBA forces from one level of combat readiness to another is carried out by the Secretary of Defense or the President of the United States.
The highest level of combat readiness is combat readiness No. 1. As a rule, combat readiness is introduced in stages, from lowest to highest, but with a sharp change in the military-political situation, combat readiness No. 2 or No. 1 can be immediately introduced.
Combat readiness number 5. In everyday peacetime conditions, 70% of the SA combat personnel are maintained in a technically combat-ready state. The Security Service is not on combat duty in everyday conditions.
If the international situation worsens, it may be introduced combat readiness number 4. With its introduction, planned combat training ceases. SBs located in the air or at other air bases return to airfields of permanent deployment. Measures are being taken to restore the technical readiness of the Security Forces, and the composition of the combat-ready forces of the Security Forces is being increased. Up to 30% of combat-ready aircraft go on combat duty. The time to bring No. 4 into combat readiness is 1,5–2 days.
If there is a threat to start maintaining a database without the use of nuclear weapons, combat readiness number 3. In the SBA air wings, measures are being completed to bring the SB into a technically sound condition (up to 100% of the combat strength of the SA). All combat-ready security forces are being prepared for departure. The composition of the duty forces of the SA is increased to 50–60%, the dispersal of the SB begins, and their combat duty is organized at alternate airfields (4–6 SB). The headquarters, control and communications bodies of the SA are transferred to round-the-clock operation. Combat readiness restoration groups are formed and transferred to alternate airfields. The time it takes to bring SBA forces No. 3 to combat readiness is up to 3 days.
In the event of a further increase in the threat (at the start of hostilities without the use of nuclear weapons) and the introduction into the US Armed Forces combat readiness No. 2 Activities for the dispersal of the Security Forces are being completed, and checks are being carried out on the combat readiness of the Security Forces forces. Up to 60% of all combat-ready security forces are on combat duty. The time to bring forces to combat readiness No. 2 is up to 12 hours.
Combat readiness number 1 is introduced in the event of an immediate threat of a nuclear missile attack on the United States within the next few hours. The duty forces of the SA are brought to 100% of the composition of all combat-ready security forces. A backup SBA control system is being deployed from air and ground mobile command posts.
Plans for the combat use of SBA are being put into effect, according to which bombers can be used to carry out area and targeted air strikes with conventional or nuclear weapons.
With the participation of SBA at BSU (up to 80% of combat-ready forces) they can use nuclear weapons massively or in single strikes against designated targets. In case of a sudden strike, the number of SB forces can be reduced by up to 30% due to the short (up to 2 hours) period of emergency preparation of the SB forces for combat use. From the remaining SB, a second wave of attacks on targets is formed.
B-52N on the runway during training to apply BGU
Due to the long flight time of the SB to the strike line, their use is planned in the second (with the use of nuclear missile launchers) but, as a rule, in the third and fourth echelons of a fast global strike. Based on the experience of SBA operational preparation activities, bombers take off 5–15 minutes before the launch of ICBMs and SLBMs or simultaneously with them. The total time it takes to lift combat-ready aircraft into the air is about 15 minutes.
Algorithm for the operation of SBA aircraft when performing a combat mission at maximum range
Due to the significant distance of the attack targets from the SB airfields on the American continent, in order to complete the assigned task they need to be refueled in the air.
The first refueling of the satellite in the air is carried out 3 hours after takeoff, the second - after 4–6 hours. During long flights, SBs can be refueled along the route up to 5–6 times. Refueling is carried out at altitudes of 7 m and above at flight speeds of 000–600 km/h. The average refueling time for B-700H aircraft is 52–25 minutes.
Refueling B-52N in the air
In practice, this happens as follows.
After takeoff, the SB goes to the first refueling area, which is carried out using the escort method, i.e., the bomber and tanker follow the same course during the refueling process. After refueling, the bombers climb to an altitude of 9–000 m and follow their individual routes to the so-called “E” hour line (line of no return), but crossing the line is allowed only after receiving an order to use weapons. In the area of this milestone, a second refueling is carried out.
Having received an order to use weapons, the SB proceed to the “H” line (the line for coordinating the time of striking). The accuracy of reaching the “H” line is set within 1–2 minutes. Between the “E” and “H” lines, the weapon control circuits are unlocked and the nuclear warhead is prepared for combat use.
The B-52N will approach the point marked with a red square with nuclear warheads already cocked and ALCMs ready to launch.
When the SB approaches the detection line by means of Defense enemy, bombers, as a rule, descend and continue their flight at low and extremely low altitudes with jamming by onboard means EW.
This is, in general terms, the tactics of using Security Council to analyze combat training activities and the use of Security Council in local wars and conflicts.
In relation to the Russian Federation, the Yankees have a number of features revealed during their training to carry out conditional SBA strikes on our territory.
According to combat use plans, the launch of ALCMs and nuclear missile systems during the first strike should be carried out by the Security Forces outside the border of the Russian Federation or on the border of its mainland (for the northern direction). Line “N” from the northern direction is located at a distance of 800–1 km from the state border of the Russian Federation. When carrying out airstrikes by SBA forces against objects on the territory of the Russian Federation, the conventional launch boundary of the missile defense system is located:
• in the northern direction – on the section between Bear Island and the New Siberian Islands;
• in the southern direction – over the territory of Turkey, located at a distance of at least 100 km from the Black Sea coast;
• in the eastern direction – over the Pacific Ocean, located 500–800 km from the Kuril Islands.
According to Russian analysts, it is most likely that in order to reach the point of combat use of UAB and nuclear weapons against targets on Russian territory, the Security Service will use only northern routes running in the corridor between the island. Bear and New Siberian Islands.
Probable direction of reaching the strike line of the US Air Force SBA on targets on the territory of the Russian Federation
The remaining directions have not been planned until now due to the need to make a long flight over the territories of the Russian Federation and the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (part of the joint air defense system of the CIS member states), saturated airspace control systems and air defense systems.
In any case, the SB must reach the range of guaranteed target destruction with a portable weapon, and this is usually 0,75–0,8 of the maximum range. Therefore, the real, and not advertised, ranges of the use of high-tech weapons carried by the US Air Force SB are somewhat different.
Thus, the actual combat range of standard precision-guided ammunition with which the above-mentioned SBs were equipped is:
• Long-range ALCM AGM-158 JASSM: up to 980 km;
• AGM-86C CALCM long-range ALCM: up to 1 km;
• Medium-range air-launched cruise missile AGM-84H SLAM-ER: up to 270 km;
• AGM-154 JSOW glide bomb: 130–560 km;
• Short-range anti-ship missile AGM-142 Have Nap: up to 80 km;
• UAB with JDAM-ER guidance system: up to 72 km;
• UAB with JDAM and LJDAM guidance systems: up to 28–30 km.
However, it should be noted that The US Air Force conducts extensive R&D to create new types of weapons and means of destruction, including high-precision hypersonic weapons.
Until March 183, GZ RVB AGM-2023A was one of the leaders of the ARRW programs
From an analysis of foreign media, we can conclude that after the failures that befell the AGM-183A RVB, its further funding has been stopped. Lockheed Martin's ARRW, which was considered the most advanced version of the air-launched GZO, also fell out of the race after unsuccessful launches in March 2023.
The leadership of the US Department of the Air Force now places its main hopes on the product of the RTX company (formerly Raytheon, a subsidiary of the Northrop Grumman corporation), developed under the HACM program. It is known that in 2022, $2,4 billion was allocated for its implementation from the budget of the US Department of the Air Force. The new weapon is planned to be equipped with a nuclear warhead based on the W80 or W84 nuclear warhead.
The adoption of this weapon will contribute to a significant increase in the firepower of the US Air Force SBA aviation complexes and an increase in their combat capabilities.
The long-term operation of aviation systems currently in service with the US Air Force has put on the agenda the issue of creating a new bomber that meets the requirements of modern warfare. According to the US Air Force command, such a machine should be the B-21 Raider strategic bomber.
First display of the new B-21 Raider bomber
Such a moment came on December 2, 2022, when Northrop Grumman presented the first produced copy of the B-21 strategic bomber, presenting it to the US Secretary of Defense. According to the company's management, in addition to this model, five more aircraft of this type are at various stages of production.
Due to the fact that the promising aviation complex B-21 “Raider” made its first flight on November 10, 2023, a number of publications appeared in the press regarding the prospects for the further use of US Air Force SBA aircraft. According to plans, the B-21 bomber will be adopted by SBA aviation units after 2025, and by 2040 the Air Force should purchase up to 100 units of such bombers. At the same time, the cost of one car should not exceed $550 million.
As a result, the US Air Force's fleet of strategic bombers should increase to 175 units. However, the Pentagon believes that due to the growing threat to US interests (primarily in the Asia-Pacific region), the Air Force will need at least 270 aircraft to maintain the world hegemony of the White House.
Thus, the well-informed American publication 19FortyFive notes: “Currently, the US strategic bomber force has only 141 manned platforms, about half of which are B-52 Stratofortresses, built in the 1960s. According to analysts at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, only 59 bombers are ready to immediately carry out combat missions.
It is noted that the purchase of hundreds of B-21s will slightly increase the total number of bombers, since the B-2030 Lancer and B-1 Spirit aircraft are planned to be phased out by the mid-2s. In this case, the US Air Force will have 175 bombers, including 75 modernized B-52s.
From the above publication it is clear that supersonic “Lancers” and ultra-expensive “Spirits” are ending their flight life. history, giving way to the stealthy and relatively inexpensive B-21 Raider.
However, the flying age of the old B-52 Stratofortress continues: 75 vehicles will undergo another modernization and will continue to remain in combat service with the US Air Force SBA. Enviable longevity of a Vietnam War veteran!
Let me remind you that, in addition to the Vietnam War, the B-52H were actively used in the Persian Gulf (1991); in the US Army's Operation Desert Strike (1996); in the Western coalition's Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003); in the Syrian conflict (2016). As a rule, all B-52Hs participated in the destruction of ground targets using high-precision ALCMs AGM-86 and AGM-158 JASSM.
The US Air Force command is aware that the large EPR of the B-52N requires the use of these SB either in conditions of complete suppression of the enemy’s air defense system, or in conditions of maximum cover of the Stratofortresses by TA aircraft. It is obvious that Pentagon strategists assign the B-52N the role of bomb carriers, dropping their deadly cargo from a great height on targets with completely suppressed air defense and in the absence of enemy intelligence in the area of the attacked target.
Apparently, the future appearance of the US Air Force SBA is being formed for these tasks, in which the B-21 and B-52 of the next moderation will remain.
Expected dynamics of improving the combat capabilities of the US SBA
Conclusions
Thus, summing up the topic, we can draw the following conclusions:
1. The strategic bomber force of the US Air Force remains one of the leading elements of the state’s nuclear triad, which continues to improve and poses a real threat of destruction to the most important targets of the opposing enemy; causing him unacceptable harm.
2. The US Air Force command pays close attention to maintaining the SBA forces at the established level of combat readiness. This is achieved by the clear organization of combat training of crews, the system of combat duty of the Security Council and the combat readiness of the forces of the Security Forces for action in any situation.
3. Maintaining numbers, constantly updating and modernizing the Air Force bomber fleet, equipping SBA aviation units with new types of aircraft, adopting aviation systems and the latest types of weapons and weapons are the priority tasks of the US Air Force SBA.
The efforts of the leadership of the Pentagon and the US Department of the Air Force to improve strategic bomber aircraft are a real threat to the Russian Federation and China, the countries of the world majority. Therefore, it is vital for our country that the military-political leadership of the Russian Federation create an effective air defense and aerospace forces system as quickly as possible.
Information