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The Pentagon is launching a modernization program for supersonic strategic bombers with a Rockwell B-1 Lancer variable-sweep wing. These are quite old aircraft, they began to enter service with the US Air Force in 1985 and are subject to replacement.
The program provides for the purchase of new external Load Adaptive Modular (LAM) pylons for B-1B Lancer bombers, according to Western military-related media. This should significantly expand their ability to carry hypersonic air-to-surface missiles as the U.S. Air Force transitions to the B-21 Raider bomber.
The budget request of the US Air Force for fiscal year 2026 includes $50.26 million for a new event called the "External Heavy Missile Pylon Installation Program," which provides "increased capacity for antipersonnel munitions on B-1B aircraft."
Currently, the US Air Force has 44 B‑1B bombers in service, whereas initially there were 100 of them. These aircraft are being phased out in favor of the new B‑21 Raider, but the LAM upgrade is designed to temporarily preserve their use.
The LAM pylons activate the bomber's external suspension units, which were originally used during the Cold War for nuclear cruise missiles, but were decommissioned in accordance with the agreements. A Sniper guidance system is now installed on one node, while others have been converted to install LAM, according to the military analytical publication Defense Industry Europe.
In the LAM configuration, each B-1B is capable of carrying up to 24 internal and 12 external ammunition, including up to 144 small-diameter bombs or a set of hypersonic weapons. In the short term, the aircraft will be able to serve as a testbed for hypersonic weapons, which the United States is having trouble developing.
At the same time, if you look at it, the Pentagon did not upgrade the old bombers out of a good life. The thing is that the implementation of the program for the production and adoption by the US Air Force of promising B‑21 Raider bombers has faced delays. And this is already a fairly common phenomenon for the American army when it comes to the development and production of new types of weapons, especially the most complex ones.
— states Defense Industry Europe.
The B‑21 Raider aircraft was first unveiled to the public on December 2, 2022 at a ceremony held by the bomber's developer, Northrop Grumman. On July 27, 2023, it was announced that tests would be conducted to turn on the aircraft's engine. The first flight of the B‑21 Raider took place on November 10, 2023. In September 2023, the developer announced the start of ground tests for bomber engines. According to the latest data, there are about ten B‑21 Raiders at various stages of assembly.
