U.S. Air Force gearing up for the largest B-1 bomber modification in program history

February 1, 2013 Military Aviation
David Cenciotti

The U.S. Air Force is about to furtherly upgrade its fleet of B-1B Lancer bombers.

With what the service announces as “the largest B-1 modification in program history” the supersonic swing-wing bomber will get several improvements as part of the Integrated Battle Station and Sustainment-Block 16 (SB-16) upgrade aimed to provide B-1 aircrews with a higher level of situational awareness and a faster, secure digital communication link.

SB-16, includes a Vertical Situation Display Upgrade in the cockpit that will replace the two monochrome pilot and co-pilot displays with four color MFDs (Multi Function Display); a Fully Integrated Data Link and a Central Integrated Test System (used to detect and troubleshoot anomalies) in the aft station; a new avionics featuring moving maps and more user friendly symbology, navigation and radar upgrades.

The aircraft will be upgraded to such an extent B-1 aircrew will need to treat a modified B-1 like a brand new aircraft.

B-1

Image credit: Jake Melampy/U.S. Air Force

These modifications fall under the Integrated Battle Station initiative, which will be implemented by 2019.

Developmental testing is scheduled to begin in April at Edwards AFB, California, while the 337th TES (Test and Evaluation Squadron) at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, that will conduct operational testing validating tactics needed to exploit new equipment and software is expecting  its first fully modified B-1 later this year.

“The IBS/SB-16 upgrade to the B-1 enhances the ability of this amazing aircraft to integrate and operate with the most advanced air, sea, land and cyber platforms of our military forces,” said Lt. Col. George Holland, 337th TES commander.

“Whether providing air support over ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan or shifting focus to support maritime operations in the Pacific, the IBS upgrade to the B-1 provides more capability to the quiver of our combatant commanders.”

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About David Cenciotti
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David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.

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4 Comments

  1. What a waste of money. I sure hope they will add in the second generator that was in the original design so there’s enough juice to run everything for a change. To bad they aren’t updating a reliable plane like the B52, it can actually fly low level in IFR.

  2. An utter waste of money. The B-1 is obsolete and was obsolete by the time it entered service. It cannot survive in any airspace defended by so much as legacy Soviet air defense systems like the SA-2/3/4/5/6, let alone the most modern Russian and Chinese air defense systems like the S-300, S-400, S-500, HQ-9, and HQ-16. It is also by far the most expensive USAF bomber to maintain and operate and by far the most spare-part-consuming. It should not be upgraded – it should be retired, trashed, and replaced with the Next Generation Bomber.

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