The B-1A Dodo vs the B-1B Lancer

Folks,

Hindsight and “What If” are great. But let’s engage in it. To wit, would the USAF had not been better off having stuck with the orginal design of the B-1A (ie which the defense reforms and opposition called the DODO Bird). Yes, the resurrected B-1B Lancer did have some stealth features. But lets face it its radar cross section was never reduced enough to make a difference. You didn’t see any of them over Bagdhad on the first day of the war in 1991.

And in exchange for that very limited stealth feature the B-1B lost a lot in payload, range and speed, etc over the B-1A. The B-1A could a lot better cruise over Afghanistan waiting for calls to drop JDAMs, etc. IMHO.

Anyone agree? Disagree? Comments?

Jack E. Hammond

BTW, also IMHO the USAF would have been better of in killing the whole B-1 program and going with the FB-111H concept offered. A lot more cost effective and in war cost effectiveness is important.