The advent of ballistic missiles rendered the strategic bomber obsolete as a nuclear deterrence, and the end of the Cold War hammered the final nail in the coffin of that role. The last remnants of the UK V-bomber fleet were retired years ago, and now the only countries with a strategic bomber capability are the US and Russia.
However, JDAMs allowed even the 1950s-era airframe of the B-52 to play a highly relevent role during Operation Iraqi Freedom, not to mention the supersonic B-1, which was also originally designed for the nuclear role. The US strategic bomber fleet dropped more ordnance than the rest of the jets of the Allies combined, the majority of it being guided munitions. The previously highly vocal critics of the B-1 and B-2 were silenced after this astounding success.
Is it then correct to say that with the advent of GPS-guided ordnance, there is now a new role for large bomber aircraft? If the B-52 can be upgraded to remain useful even in the 21st century, could other aircraft that were previously considered obsolete also find a new lease on life?
Unfortunately, there are no more V-bombers even flying. But there were many advanced variants proposed in their heyday. On exciting example is the supersonic variant of the Victor, considered by Handley Page after the success of the original aircraft was established:
Just how difficult would it be to resurrect this fantastic bomber, or the Vulcan, to allow the RAF to finally come home after its protracted ‘capability holiday’?
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June 1, 2006 at 8:32 pm