5 close-air support weapons for the Lancer that are better than a cannon
SUMMARY
Recent reports have surfaced that state that the B-1B Lancer might get a cannon to help provide close support for troops on the ground. Now, as we all know, when it comes to using a gun to provide support for the troops, nothing beats the A-10's BRRRRRT.
The A-10 may be legendary, but that doesn't mean Boeing won't try and top it. Currently, according to an Air Force fact sheet, the Lancer carries "84 500-pound Mk-82 or 24 2,000-pound Mk-84 general purpose bombs; up to 84 500-pound Mk-62 or 8 2,000-pound Mk-65 Quick Strike naval mines; 30 cluster munitions (CBU-87, -89, -97) or 30 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispensers (CBU-103, -104, -105); up to 24 2,000-pound GBU-31 or 15 500-pound GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions; up to 24 AGM-158A Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles; 15 GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions."
In addition to this diverse lineup, Boeing wants to mount a cannon onto the plane that retracts into the airframe's belly. However, we think the Lancer deserves something a little more exciting than a cannon. Here are five suggestions:
The CBU-100 cluster bomb, also known as the Mk 20, carries 247 bomblets in a 500-pound package.
(U.S. Navy)
1. CBU-100 Rockeye cluster bomb
This is a 500-pound cluster bomb that's carried the same way that a Mk 82 is carried on tactical aircraft. This bomb, also known as the Mk 20, carries 247 bomblets and weighs 490 pounds. Just imagine a B-1 dropping 84 of these on the bad guys...
2. Mk 77 incendiary bomb
The Lancer has a wide variety of armaments — why not give it the capability to permeate the air with the "smell of victory?" The Mk 77 is a 750-pound bomb that uses kerosene as opposed to traditional napalm. Mixing these with Mk 82 general purpose bombs would create the ultimate "shake and bake" loadout for the B-1.
The B-1 could carry the AGM-86 Air-Launched Cruise Missile prior to enactment of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty,
(USAF)
3. AGM-86 Air-Launched Cruise Missile
Before the B-1 was denuclearized by the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, it was able to carry the massive AGM-86 on external pylons. Today, there are a number of conventional variants of this missile — and maybe it's time to let the B-1 carry those again. Besides, the Russians are cheating on some arms-control treaties, why shouldn't the B-1 get ALCMs again?
This test of a GBU-24 shows this bomb's precision and power.
(DOD)
4. GBU-24 Paveway laser-guided bomb
GPS is nice but, sometimes, you need a bit more precision than GPS guidance can provide. Or perhaps you just want more oomph than the 500-pound GBU-54 can provide. In either case, the GBU-24 fits the bill nicely, since it's based on the Mk 84 2,000-pound bomb.
The ADM-160 is perhaps one of the most diabolical weapons the Air Force could add to the B-1B Lancer.
(USAF photo)
5. ADM-160 Miniature Air-Launched Decoy
Okay, this one doesn't go boom, but the ADM-160 messes up enemy defenses by presenting a lot of false targets. At just 100 pounds, a single B-1 could easily send a few dozen towards an enemy to simulate a massive raid. The enemy, in response, would likely light off radars and shoot missiles at the swarm of decoys. Meanwhile, real strikes will hit targets, which may be the very radars and missile sites busy trying to shoot down the decoys.
What bombs would you like to see the Air Force equip the Lancer with? Let us know in the comments below!
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