Marking my Beliefs to Market N
In 1980 I had a long argument with an unfortunate guy who didn’t just say “let’s agree to disagree” which sometimes works. He was arguing that the US should build B-1s, then the weapon of the future. I argued that the US should rely on Tomahawk missiles (launched from B-52s) which I asserted were the weapon of the future.
It is now what was in 1980 the future and guess what weapon was used yesterday (hint it wasn’t a B-1 bomber).
I love to say “I told you so” however, in this case I can’t. I can type “I told him so” and just did
Robert:
Made your way to missiles, I see. Fast (550mph speed) low flying, guided missile from an expensive sub. No B52 launch, a $700 million nuclear sub launch.
You are right though, why not a low cost B52 launch?
I am reminded of the post I put up the other day about the US Army AF using beat-up B-17s & B-24s loaded with high-explosives to be crashed into targets in Nazi Germany in the waning days of WW2 (in response to German V-1s &V-2s, and also jet fighters.)
We have learned so much since then about how to do this better.
Maybe they could try that with aging B52’s.
In WW2, the crews were supposed to bail out before setting their plane to dive towards a target. Perhaps with B52’s we could have AI/robots at the controls. Could something like an articulated Roomba fly a B52?
In the 1990s, illegal drug importers would buy a decrepit but airworthy 707 or 727 and use to fly in drugs. They’d ditch the plane and keep the drugs which were by far more valuable. A marginal airfield can be more than adequate if one doesn’t care about the condition of the plane or ever taking off again.
The US military set out, in Iraq, to use helicopters to attack enemy troops setting out IEDs.
Eventually, they switched to drones, and the era of UAV was born.
Cruise missiles, especially when nuclear-tipped, will definitely be the way to go, once WWIII gets underway. For both the US Navy & the AF, they are ideal in that they are launched a great distance away from their intended targets by really expensive crewed launchers.
(Helicopters can easily be shot down by inexpensive shoulder-fired missiles, as the Russians discovered in Afghanistan when the mujahideen acquired US Stinger missles.)
Currently the plan is to retire the B1s before the B52s (no retirement actually scheduled).
better to pack the obsolete B1s with explosives and keep the still very useful B52s
Robert:
Use robotics to fly it? Not a bad idea . . .
Robert:
Not sure why I have to keep pulling you out of the trash.
T’wasn’t me.
I know 🙂