From: Longhunter7 (longhunter7@comcast.net)
Date: Thu Oct 09 2003 - 15:19:06 PDT
How to really ruin someone's day!
80 Smart Bombs at Once from One B-2
October 9, 2003: On September 10th, a U.S. Air Force
B-2 bomber released 80 smart bombs, at 80 different
targets, in one pass. This was a test of the B-2s new
ability to carry 80 smaller JDAM (satellite guided)
smart bombs. The new bomb racks inside the B-2 allow
it to carry more of the smaller bombs. Before, the B-2
could only carry a maximum of 16 bombs. The new bomb
racks (mechanical equipment that holds and releases
the bombs) are called SBRA (Smart Bomb Release
Assembly). The new racks come with new software for
the B-2s fire control system that allow the pilot to
select when each bomb is released and which location
it's guidance system is programmed for. Having one B-2
bomber come in and hit eighty targets, with a high
degree of accuracy, within a few minutes, is more
devastating than many more less accurate bombs dropped
by more aircraft over a longer period of time. The
reason for this is surprise. Enemy troops have less
time to run for cover or get their weapons into
action. Since the B-2 tends to operate at night, the
surprise is even more devastating. The SBRA has been
in development since 2001 and tests have been going on
through the Summer. SBRA will enter service about a
year from now. Development cost $131 million and
production of the racks will cost about $1.6 million
per aircraft.
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