Rockwell B-1B Vs Tupolev Tu-160: Battle Of The Swing Wing Bombers

 

Rockwell B-1B Vs Tupolev Tu-160: Battle Of The Swing Wing Bombers (msn.com)

Rockwell B-1B Vs Tupolev Tu-160: Battle Of The Swing Wing Bombers

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Rockwell B-1B Vs Tupolev Tu-160: Battle Of The Swing Wing Bombers

Henry Kelsall 

At the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United States were firmly locked in a fierce arms race, to develop the best military aircraft possible. Both sides wanted to get the edge over the other, and with so many aircraft produced during that period, sometimes it is difficult to keep up. We had fearsome interceptors such as the MiG-31 Foxhound and the F-104 Starfighter, and then huge bombers such as the B-1B Lancer and the Tu-160 Blackjack. It is those latter two that are of particular note.

 

© Provided by HotCarsRockwell B-1B Vs Tupolev Tu-160: Battle Of The Swing Wing Bombers

 

The B-1B Lancer in effect spawned the Tu-160. Both of these are supersonic swing-wing bombers, but the Tu-160 was in fact created in response to the original B-1A bomber project that evolved into the B-1B. It is perhaps no surprise then to many that the Tu-160 bears a striking resemblance to that of the B-1A/B. Both the B-1B and the Tu-160 are still in service with their respective air arms, and are both still vital to those air arm's strategic needs. But how do these two aircraft compare? Let's find out.

 

The B-1B Lancer In Detail

 

The B-1 Lancer is a product of the Rockwell company, and currently is one of three strategic bombers in the US Air Force fleet. The others are the B-2 Spirit and the B-52 Stratofortress. The B-1 has variable swing-wings, they fold out during take-off/landing and fold in for faster flight. The first B-1A prototype took flight in 1974 while the B-1B would take to the skies in 1984, after the project was subsequently restarted. During that time, the requirements for the aircraft had changed. Originally conceived to be a Mach 2 capable aircraft, the B-1B would become a Mach 1.25 capable bomber, although the Soviet Union was already developing the Tu-160 in response to the B-1A.

 

The B-1B has seen considerable active service during its career. It was first employed in Operation Desert Fox in Iraq during December 1998, and was then used in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan as well as the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. The aircraft has a top speed of 830 mph or Mach 1.25 and its power comes from four General Electric F101-GE-102 afterburning turbofan engines. There are six external hardpoints on the bomber for ordnance, and the aircraft has a capacity for 50,000 lbs on those and an internal bomb bay capacity of 75,000 lbs. The aircraft is right now expected to remain in service until 2036.

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The Tu-160 Blackjack In Detail

 

Like the B-1, the Tu-160 is also a swing-wing jet bomber. Plus, as of 2022, it is the largest and heaviest combat aircraft, and the fastest bomber and largest and heaviest swing-wing aircraft ever flown. The Tu-160 first flew in 1981, and was the last strategic bomber designed for the Soviet Union. It was as mentioned built in direct response to the B-1A bomber project, hence the call for a Mach 2 + top speed for the Tu-160. Despite the cancellation of the B-1A project, Tupolev and the Soviet Union pressed on with the Tu-160. It would enter service in 1987.

 

Four Kuznetsov NK-32 afterburning turbofan engines propel the Tu-160, with it having a top speed of 1,380 mph or Mach 2.05. Operationally, the Tu-160 has seen relatively limited service compared to the B-1 Lancer. The most notable usage of the Tu-160 so far was during the Russian intervention in the Syrian Civil War, with the aircraft carrying out cruise missile strikes in places such as Idlib and Aleppo. Russia is currently working to modernize its fleet of Tu-106s, with the first example flying in January 2022 as it looks to keep the aircraft flying for as long as possible. The Tu-160 has an internal weapons load of up to 99,208 lbs.

 

The Two Supersonic Bombers Compared

 

On paper, the Tu-160 has the advantage of its American counterpart. It's faster, it can carry a larger payload within its bomb bay, and is a much larger machine than the B-1. However, the Tu-160 was, in reality, built to compete with a different kind of B-1. As such, comparing their speed is almost pointless. While it has had a quieter service life, the Tu-160 hasn’t had it easy, with their conflicting reports on just how few of the type were actually airworthy. Only four were apparently in service in 2011.

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Surely We Have A Clear Winner

 

The B-1 meanwhile has had more developments on it over the years, and has proven itself multiple times in combat whereas the Tu-160 has had limited combat experience. Plus, the Tu-160 has a lower service ceiling than the B-1, at 52,000 ft compared to 60,000 ft. The United States is more likely to keep up with the maintenance of its aircraft too but ultimately, it will be fascinating to see which aircraft does stay in service with its respective air arm the longest.

Sources: The National Interest, Nuke FAS, Military