Bomber Aircraft

I

Introduction

Bomber Aircraft, specialized warplanes that are designed to drop a large amount of ammunition on enemy targets. Bombers can attack from high or low altitudes and from great or small distances, and they can strike targets deep within an enemy country. Bomber aircraft have been used in almost every major conflict since World War I (1914-1918). Early bombers could drop only a few bombs at a time, and they did this only over battlefields. By World War II (1939-1945), large bombers with greater capacity and range were used to destroy both military and industrial targets. Today, small jet bombers can be used to destroy specific targets quickly and with precision, eliminating the need to use ground troops for such an attack. Larger, long-range bombers act as a deterrent against enemy attack.

Crew size on a bomber varies, depending on the type and mission of the bomber. A large bomber typically requires a crew of four or five. The crew usually includes a pilot and copilot, and may include radar officers, flight engineers, and gunners. Bombers are equipped with electronic warfare devices, such as radar jammers, to aid them in attacking heavily defended enemy targets. Because bombers are vulnerable targets for fast-moving enemy aircraft and missiles, they are usually protected by other fighter aircraft that serve as escorts.

II

Types of Bombers

Bomber aircraft can range in size from large strategic bombers to smaller tactical fighter-bombers. Strategic bombers are equipped to carry dozens of heavy bombs or missiles over a great distance. The American B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber can carry as much as 27,200 kg (60,000 lb) of explosives to attack targets more than 6400 km (4000 mi) away. Modern bombers can carry conventional (non-nuclear) bombs, nuclear bombs, and long-range cruise missiles. Weapons are either carried in a holding area (called the bomb bay) or attached to the wings. Cruise missiles can be fired at targets over 2400 km (1500 mi) away and can have either nuclear or conventional warheads. Conventional bombs are usually dropped from extremely high altitudes over an enemy area.

Only the United States and Russia operate strategic bombers today. American strategic bombers include the B-52 Stratofortress, the B-1 Lancer, and the B-2 Spirit. The B-52, which first flew in 1953, is one of the oldest operating warplanes in the world. The B-52 has seen service in the Vietnam War (1959-1975) and in 1991, during the Persian Gulf War. The B-1 has movable wings that enable it to fly to a target either low to the ground at slow speeds or at high altitudes and supersonic speeds. The B-2, known as the Stealth Bomber, is America’s newest bomber. It looks like a flying wing and is equipped with special features that render it nearly invisible to radar. The B-2 is the most expensive aircraft in the world; each plane costs almost $2 billion.

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Russian strategic bombers include the Tu-26 Backfire and the Tu-160 Blackjack. Both of these planes have movable wings and are capable of supersonic speeds. The Backfire, developed in the 1970s, is flown mainly by the Russian Navy to attack enemy ships. The Blackjack, developed in the 1980s, resembles the American B-1. The Blackjack can attack at low or high altitudes, and can carry a variety of missiles and bombs.

Fighter-bombers, also known as strike fighters, are much smaller then strategic bombers. They are dual-purpose aircraft that can drop bombs and also fight enemy planes. Fighter-bombers carry a much smaller number of bombs over a shorter distance to attack enemy targets. They are able to protect themselves against attack and do not require other aircraft as escorts. Fighter-bombers in use today include the American F/A-18 Hornet and F-16 Fighting Falcon and the Russian Su-27 Flanker.

III

History

Like many other warplanes, the first bomber aircraft were developed in the early 1900s, during World War I. During that time, planes began to carry ammunition to drop on enemy troops as they flew over them. As airplanes became bigger and more powerful, so did the number of bombs they were able to carry. During World War II, all the major powers used huge bomber fleets to destroy enemy cities and troops. Germany flattened London in 1940 and 1941, during the early part of the war. By 1943, American and British bombers were retaliating in large, round-the-clock raids against German cities and military targets. In the Pacific, Japanese bombers attacked cities all over Asia, particularly in China. American bombers destroyed large areas of all major Japanese cities, including two atomic bomb attacks in August 1945.

Since World War II, large strategic bombers have stood alert as an important deterrent to nuclear war. They have also been used for conventional attacks in Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf War. However, the majority of bombers in use today are dual-purpose fighter-bombers. Advances in the development of weapons development have made bombing safer for the attacking pilots because many weapons—such as cruise missiles—are launched some distance away from the target.

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