Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1407425
direction here is to integrate new weapons on the bomber. The B-1B has been modified to carry AGM-158C LRASM anti-ship missiles, which is an interesting development. Considering the growth of the Chinese Navy, anti-shipping sorties seem to be the job that the B-1B could handle, should both superpowers clash. Even though LRASM missiles were launched out of the bomb bay, in recent months an announcement was made, that the original application of the under-fuselage weapons station has been restored. AGM-158B JASSM - a sister missile for LRASM - has been launched from the aforesaid pylon. Originally the external pylons were designed to carry nuclear cruise missiles, however, B-1B never used them. In 1994 USAF resigned from the nuclear capabilities of the B-1Bs. Then, a few years later, the possibility of installing external weapons stations was excluded within the framework of the START treaty. This did not refer to one, the front station used to carry the Sniper XR targeting pod that made the B-1B a very lethal CAS platform. USAF suggests that retrofitting the pylons onto the aircraft (or making options as such available) to carry the AGM-158 missiles of both variants would not be a breach of the treaty, but it would, in an obvious way, expand the capabilities of the bomber. Potentially, the external pylons could also be used to accommodate the AGM-183 ARRW missiles - the USAF's hope. So far, these were being launched off the B-52H. www.fragoutmag.com