While on the return flight to the United States, the trio of B-1Bs also took part in a hot pit refueling at Lajes Field, Azores.
Last week, a United States Air Force Rockwell B-1B Lancer long-range strategic bomber was escorted by two Hungarian Air Force and two Swedish Air Force JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets in a low-level flyover of Riga, Latvia. According to the US Air Force, the five aircraft “flew in formation over the Monument of Freedom.” Installed in 1935, it honors the soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence, which was fought against the Red Army of the Soviet Union from November 1918 to August 1920.
The B-1B Lancer was one of three that deployed earlier this month to Norway as part of the fifth Bomber Task Force Europe (BTF) mission this fiscal year. In contrast, the Hungarian Air Force’s JAS-39 fighters are currently deployed to Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, and taking part in NATO’s Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission. It is the fourth time that Budapest has sent fighters to the region to carry out the critical NATO patrols on its eastern flank.
“The security of the Baltic States and NATO’s Eastern flank is the cornerstone of the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic region,” said Latvian Minister of Defence Andris Sprūds. “Such U.S. and Allied flyover maneuvers clearly demonstrate NATO’s presence in the region, transatlantic unity, and commitment to collectively strengthen the security of the Baltic State region.”
The B-1B Is Now Back in the Heart of Texas
The B-1B that took part in the historic flight over Riga is now back home, deep in the heart of Texas at Dyess Air Force Base (AFB), having. During the abridged deployment to Norway, the three deployed Lancer bombers trained with the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) and carried out multiple sorties. The Cold War-era bombers flew with the RNoAF’s Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs, where they conducted “coordinated strikes under simulated anti-access and area denial (A2AD) conditions,” the US Air Force explained.
The mission further emphasized how the US bomber complemented the capabilities of the Lightning II.
“We have the F-35, which is a multi-role fighter jet, which you might say is a jack-of-all-trades, master of none,” said Royal Norwegian Air Force Maj. Morgan, acting commander of the unit that integrated with the BTF. “We are able to defend other aircraft; we are also able to drop weapons onto the ground. Whereas the B-1 is more specific and has long-range and high-speed capabilities.”
B1-B Pilots Practiced “Hot Pit Refueling”
While on the return flight to the United States, the trio of B-1Bs also took part in a hot pit refueling at Lajes Field, Azores. The aircraft landed, refueled with the engines running, and then quickly returned to the skies. It meant the crews did not have time to stretch their legs, use the bathroom, or even breathe in the salt air. But it was all part of the training exercise, not a sightseeing holiday!
“The more we train, the more capability we build, and strengthen the bonds between our Airmen and our Allies,” said Maj. Gen. Joseph L. Campo, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa Operations, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration director. “By working side by side in demanding environments, we gain the trust, understanding, and readiness needed to meet future challenges together.”
This was the first BTF deployment of the B-1B Lancer to Europe this year. Still, the Rockwell Bomber has also been deployed on similar missions to the Indo-Pacific, with aircraft sent to Guam in February and Japan in late April.
The B-1B’s Specifications
- Year Introduced: 1985
- Number Built: 100
- Length: 146 ft (44.5 m)
- Height: 34 ft (10.4 m)
- Wingspan:137 ft (41.8 m) extended forward, 79 ft (24.1 m) swept aft.
- Weight:
- Empty Weight: 192,000 lb (87,090 kg)
- Gross Weight: 326,000 lb (147,871 kg)
- Maximum takeoff weight: 70,000 lb class
- Engines: Four General Electric F101-GE-102 afterburning turbofan engines
- Top Speed: Mach 1.25 (960 mph, 1,450 kph)
- Range: 5,100 nmi (5,900 mi, 9,400 km); 4,100 nmi (7,600 km) with a weapon load of 37,000 lb (16,800 kg)
- Service Ceiling: 60,000+ ft
- Loadout: 6 external hardpoints for ordnance with a capacity of 50,000 lbs (23,000 kg)
- Aircrew: Four (Aircraft Commander, Pilot, Offensive Systems Officer, Defensive Systems Officer)
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
