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Author Topic: Why Isn't There A Mach 2 Bomber Jet In The U.S. Air Force?  (Read 668 times)

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Offline rangerrebew

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Why Isn't There A Mach 2 Bomber Jet In The U.S. Air Force?
« on: January 19, 2025, 09:46:12 am »

Why Isn't There A Mach 2 Bomber Jet In The U.S. Air Force?
Story by James Hydzik • 2h

The U.S. Air Force once had bombers that could reach Mach 2 or more, including the world's first in this class, the B-58, which pushed the limits of supersonic aviation. One of the most impressive supersonic bombers of all time, it was in service from 1960 through 1970. The B-58 was followed by the swing-wing FB-111A, which could hit Mach 2.15, from 1968 through 1991.
 
The FB-111A was replaced by the slower B-1B, which is still in service. It has been joined by the B-2, which first came online in 1993, and Northrop Grumman's B-21 Raider, currently under development. Both of these are subsonic.

The U.S. Air Force is unlikely to field another crewed Mach 2 bomber. Recent experience shows that without stealth, strategic bombers are not likely to be flying over near-peer adversaries. Russia's use of strategic bombers over Syria versus their absence over Ukraine since the broad-scale invasion of February 2022 points to this reality.

Even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. Air Force had no plans for a new supersonic bomber. The B-21 has a specification for 0.8 Mach, or about the same as the B-52. The debate over unpiloted 6th Generation fighters is underway, but the B-21, crewed or not, indicates a slow future for bombers.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/why-isn-t-there-a-mach-2-bomber-jet-in-the-u-s-air-force/ar-AA1xstEH?ocid=widgetonlockscreen&cvid=35549f01bccc4f7b877a856d18179b27&ei=105
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Offline rangerrebew

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Re: Why Isn't There A Mach 2 Bomber Jet In The U.S. Air Force?
« Reply #1 on: January 19, 2025, 09:47:17 am »
In a woke military, it wouldn't be "equitable" to our enemies.
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The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to foresee that, from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth.  George Washington - Farewell Address

Offline PeteS in CA

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Re: Why Isn't There A Mach 2 Bomber Jet In The U.S. Air Force?
« Reply #2 on: January 19, 2025, 10:55:50 am »
Whether at Mach .8 or 2.x, bombers are not maneuverable. At either speed they would be easy targets for SAMs or air-to-air missiles. IOW, the extra speed would have little or no benefit, but would be detrimental to range and/or carrying capacity.
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Online Smokin Joe

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Re: Why Isn't There A Mach 2 Bomber Jet In The U.S. Air Force?
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2025, 01:36:19 am »
The only advantage would be the ability to get stealthy, self-guided munitions to their launch points quicker and get out.

Delivering the payload is part of the mission, the rest is getting home again.

OTOH, if there's no hurry, deliver the hypersonic missiles by the 'slow boat'...  :pondering: :shrug:
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Offline PeteS in CA

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Re: Why Isn't There A Mach 2 Bomber Jet In The U.S. Air Force?
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2025, 10:26:09 am »
As the F-16 and F-18 have demonstrated for nearly 50 years, raw speed is not a be-all-end-all, even for fighters. Both are sub-Mach 2.
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Re: Why Isn't There A Mach 2 Bomber Jet In The U.S. Air Force?
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2025, 03:36:49 pm »
Quote from: PeteS in CA on January 20, 2025, 10:26:09 am
As the F-16 and F-18 have demonstrated for nearly 50 years, raw speed is not a be-all-end-all, even for fighters. Both are sub-Mach 2.
As the SR71 demonstrated, raw speed has its advantages.
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Seventeen Techniques for Truth Suppression

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Offline PeteS in CA

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Re: Why Isn't There A Mach 2 Bomber Jet In The U.S. Air Force?
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2025, 10:43:50 am »
Recon - i.e. the SR-71 - is a very different mission from bomber or fighter.
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Online Smokin Joe

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Re: Why Isn't There A Mach 2 Bomber Jet In The U.S. Air Force?
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2025, 10:44:40 am »
Quote from: PeteS in CA on January 22, 2025, 10:43:50 am
Recon - i.e. the SR-71 - is a very different mission from bomber or fighter.
Yes, it is. But being able to outrun SAMs is a distinct advantage that I'd bet bombers would enjoy.  We rely on stealth, but being able to deliver a stand-off weapon, already loaded with targeting data, and clear the AO in record time might make for better survivability of bombers. Stealth goes out the door the moment a weapons bay is opened, and from there, it's just a matter of hunting down the delivery vehicle. Night operations give a low visibility advantage to stealth platforms, granted, but a fast response to launch areas and saturation of egress routes with interceptors could stop the platform from operating a second time.
« Last Edit: January 22, 2025, 10:48:00 am by Smokin Joe »
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Seventeen Techniques for Truth Suppression

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

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Offline PeteS in CA

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Re: Why Isn't There A Mach 2 Bomber Jet In The U.S. Air Force?
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2025, 01:27:35 pm »
A Mach 2 bomber might have trouble outrunning a Mach 4 or 6 SAM, the speed of many Russian missiles.
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Online Smokin Joe

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Re: Why Isn't There A Mach 2 Bomber Jet In The U.S. Air Force?
« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2025, 01:31:21 pm »
Quote from: PeteS in CA on January 22, 2025, 01:27:35 pm
A Mach 2 bomber might have trouble outrunning a Mach 4 or 6 SAM, the speed of many Russian missiles.
Yeah, true, if it was a drag race. A mach 2 bomber is likely to have a good head start, though (and altitude).
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How God must weep at humans' folly! Stand fast! God knows what he is doing!
Seventeen Techniques for Truth Suppression

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

C S Lewis

Offline Timber Rattler

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Re: Why Isn't There A Mach 2 Bomber Jet In The U.S. Air Force?
« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2025, 02:41:13 pm »
Surface-to-Air missiles made them unviable in the 1960s.  Remember the B-70 Valkyrie?


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