337 TES tests B-1 maritime readiness

  • Published
  • By Airman Charles V. Rivezzo
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  As the sun began to rise across the horizon Sept. 15, the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron embarked on a first-ever test of a B-1 Bomber's maritime capabilities with laser-guided weaponry at a testing range in the Gulf of Mexico.

Racing across the skies high above the gulf, the long-range bombers successfully dropped ten Joint Direct Attack Munitions onto High Speed Maneuverable Surface Targets, each remotely controlled by Global Positioning Satellite and forward looking cameras for steering and navigation.

Munitions dropped included two 500-pound laser-guided GBU 54s, six 500-pound GPS guided GBU-38s and two 2,000-pound GPS guided GBU-31s, as well as one 2,000-pound unguided BDU 56.

"Successfully accomplishing this test proves the B-1 can deny our enemies the ability to operate in either the ground or maritime domain, whether stationary or moving," said Lt. Col. George Holland, 337 TES commander. "With range, payload, persistence and an increased capability to attack movers, the B-1 has the versatility that combatant commander need to deter or deny our enemies."

The sole purpose of the mission was to assess the tactics, techniques and procedures for the B-1 to engage maritime surface targets using its latest software, the sniper pod, as well as to collect data on the attack of moving maritime targets with guided and unguided weaponry.

The sniper pod provides aircrew on-board video to help identify between friendly and enemy forces and gives pinpoint coordinates of enemy targets. The pod also possesses streaming capability, which provides B-1 operators the ability to downlink the video captured by the pod to allow personnel on the ground to see exactly what the bomber crew saw.

"It's an aging aircraft but it's obviously more than capable, especially with the addition of the sniper pod," said 1st Lt. Diane Barney, 53rd Test Management Group, Detachment 3 engineer. "We have put more bombs on target than any other airframe at a fraction of the sorties flown, and there's something to say about that."

Currently, the B-1 is the only aircraft in the bomber community to successfully conduct maritime testing with a laser-guided JDAM using the sniper pod.

"The B-1 maritime operational test demonstrated the increased B-1 capabilities in the areas of maritime air support and maritime interdiction," said Maj. Andrew Pernell, 337 TES B-1 maritime test project officer. "This kind of testing will help develop tactics, techniques and procedures that the B-1 can use to successfully integrate its new capabilities into an expanded maritime role."

Successful completion of maritime testing has only added to the B-1's already extensive resume. Having been battle tested and battle proven, the B-1 has flown more than 70 percent of bomber combat missions since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

While the B-1 continues to be an aging aircraft, it has made its presence known throughout the last quarter century of warfare.

"Most of our aircraft are approaching 30 years. I like to tell my guys, 30 is the new 20. And in many ways, this is true as we continually upgrade our aircraft with both sustainment and capability modifications," Holland said.

The 337 TES is a geographically separated unit of the 53rd Wing.  The squadron is located at Dyess AFB, Texas.