Examine individual changes

'@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@ -{{Refimprove|date=April 2008}} -[[File:B-1B B-2 and B-52.jpg|thumb|right|Contemporary US strategic bombers: the [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress|B-52 Stratofortress]], the [[Rockwell B-1 Lancer|B-1 Lancer]] and the [[Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit|B-2 Spirit]].]] - -A '''strategic bomber''' is a mid-to-long range [[heavy bomber]] designed to drop large amounts of [[Aircraft ordnance|ordnance]] onto a distant target for the purposes of debilitating the enemy's capacity to wage war. Unlike [[tactical bomber]]s and [[ground attack aircraft]], which are used in [[air interdiction]] operations to attack enemy combatants and military equipment, strategic bombers are built to fly into enemy territory to destroy strategic targets (e.g., major military installations, factories, and cities). In addition to [[strategic bombing]], strategic bombers can be used for [[tactical bombing|tactical missions]]. The [[United States]], [[Russia]], [[China]], and [[North Korea]] maintain strategic bombers.<ref>Paul, T. V.; Wirtz, James J.; Fortmann, Michael. [http://books.google.com/books?id=9jy28vBqscQC&pg=PA332 ''Balance of power: theory and practice in the 21st century''], Stanford University Press, 2004, p. 332. ISBN 0-8047-5017-3</ref> +{{Refimprove|date=April 2008}}eory and practice in the 21st century''], Stanford University Press, 2004, p. 332. ISBN 0-8047-5017-3</ref> ==First and Second World Wars== [[File:Самолет "Илья Муромец".jpg|thumb|right|[[Sikorsky Ilya Muromets]] was designed by [[Igor Sikorsky]] as the first ever [[airliner]], but was turned into a bomber for the [[Imperial Russian Air Force]].]] @@ -13,22 +10,14 @@ At the start of [[World War II]], initial so-called "strategic" bombing was carried out by [[medium bomber]]s, typically twin-engined ones with several gun positions, but only limited bomb-carrying capacity and range. Larger two and four-engined designs were being developed in both Britain and the U.S., however, and these began to replace the smaller aircraft by 1941-42. After American entry into the war late in 1941, the U.S. [[8th Air Force]] began to develop a daylight bombing capacity using improved [[B-17]] and [[B-24]] four-engine aircraft. The RAF concentrated its efforts on night bombing. But neither force was able to develop adequate [[bombsight]]s or tactics to allow for often-bragged "pinpoint" accuracy. The post-war U.S. [[Strategic Bombing Survey]] studies supported the overall notion of strategic bombing, but underlined many of its shortcomings as well. Attempts to create pioneering examples of "smart bombs" resulted in the deployed [[Azon]] ordnance, used in the European Theatre and CBI theatre from B-24s. [[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-668-7161-31A, Flugzeug Heinkel He 177.jpg|thumb|left|The only operational strategic bomber with the ''Luftwaffe'' in WW II was the troubled [[Heinkel He 177]]]] -Following the untimely death of the top German advocate for strategic bombing, ''General'' [[Walther Wever (general)|Walther Wever]] in early June 1936, the focus of Nazi Germany's [[Luftwaffe]] bomber forces, the so-named ''[[Kampfgeschwader]]'' (bomber wings) became the battlefield support of the ''[[Wehrmacht Heer]]'' as part of the general [[Blitzkrieg]] form of warfare, carried out with both medium bombers such as the [[Heinkel He 111]], and ''[[Schnellbomber]]s'' such as the [[Junkers Ju 88]]A. ''General'' Wever's support of the [[Ural bomber]] project before WW II's start dwindled after his passing, with the only aircraft design that could closely match the Allied bomber force's own aircraft - the early November 1937-origin [[Heinkel He 177]], deployed in its initial form in 1941-42, hampered by a [[Reich Air Ministry|RLM]] requirement for the He 177A to also perform medium-angle [[dive bombing]], not rescinded until September 1942 - unable to perform either function properly, with a powerplant selection that led to endless problems with engine fires. The March 1942-origin, trans-Atlantic ranged ''[[Amerika Bomber]]'' program sought to ameliorate the lack of a seriously long-ranged bomber for the ''Luftwaffe'', but resulted with only three [[Messerschmitt Me 264|Messerschmitt]]-built and a pair of [[Junkers Ju 390|Junkers]]-built prototypes ever flown, and no operational "heavy bombers" for strategic use for the Third Reich, outside of the roughly one thousand examples of the He 177 that were built. +Following the untimely death of the top German advocate for strategic bombing, ''General'' [[Walther Wever (general)|Walther Wever]] in early June 1936, the focus of Nazi Germany's [[Luftwaffe]] bomber forces, the so-named ''[[Kampfgeschwader]]'' (bomber wings) became the battlefield support of the ''[[Wehrmacht Heer]]'' as part of the general [[Blitzkrieg]] form of warfare, carried out with both medium bombers such as the [[Heinkel He 111]], and ''[[Schnellbomber]]s'' such as the [[Junkers Ju 88]]A. ''General'' Wever's support of the [[Ural bomber]] project before WW II's start dwindled after his passing, with the only ghly one thousand examples of the He 177 that were built. -By the end of the Second World War in 1945, the "heavy" bomber, epitomized by the British [[Avro Lancaster]] and American [[B-29]] used in the [[Pacific Ocean theater of World War II|Pacific Theater]], showed what could be accomplished by [[Area Bombardment|area bombing]] of [[Japan]]'s cities and the often small and dispersed factories within them. Under Major General [[Curtis LeMay]], the U.S. [[20th Air Force]], based in the [[Mariana Islands]], undertook low-level [[incendiary bomb|incendiary bombing]] missions, results of which were soon measured in the number of square miles destroyed. The [[air raids on Japan]] had withered the nation's ability to continue fighting, although the Japanese government resisted every means to surrender, resulting the [[atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki|atomic bombs dropped]] on [[Hiroshima]] and [[Nagasaki]] in August 1945. +By the end of the Second World War in 1945, the "heavy" bomber, epitomized by the British [[Avro Lancaster]] and American [[B-29]] used in the [[Pacific Ocean theater of World War II|Pacific Theater]], showed what could be accomplished by [[Area Bombardment|area bombing]] of [[Japan]]'s cities and the often small and dispersed factories within them. Under Major General [[Curtis LeMay]], the U.S. [[20th Air Force]], based in the [[Mariana Islands]], undertookombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki|atomic bombs dropped]] on [[Hiroshima]] and [[Nagasaki]] in August 1945. ==The Cold War and its aftermath== -During the [[Cold War]], the United States and United Kingdom on one side and the Soviet Union on the other kept strategic bombers ready to [[takeoff|take off]] on short notice as part of the [[deterrence theory|deterrent]] strategy of [[Mutual Assured Destruction]] (MAD). Most strategic bombers of the two [[superpower]]s were designed to deliver [[nuclear weapon]]s. For a time, some squadrons of [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress]] bombers were kept in the air around the clock, orbiting some distance away from their [[fail-safe]] points near the Soviet border. - -The [[Royal Air Force]]'s [[Great Britain|British]]-produced "[[V bomber]]s" were designed and designated to be able to deliver British-made nuclear bombs to targets in European Russia. These bombers could have been able to reach and destroy cities like Kiev or Moscow before American strategic bombers. - -The Soviet Union produced hundreds of unlicensed units of the American [[B-29 Superfortress]], which the [[Soviet Air Force]] called the [[Tupolev Tu-4]]. They later developed the jet powered [[Tupolev Tu-16]] "Badger". - -The People's Republic of China produced a version of [[Tupolev Tu-16]] on license from the Soviet Union which they named the [[Xian H-6]], which remains in service today. +During the [[Cold War]], the United States and United Kingdom on one side and the Soviet Union on the other kept strategic bomrpower]]s were designed to deliver [[nuclear weapon]]s. For a time, some squadrons of [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress]] bombers were kept in the air around the clock, orbiting some distance away from their [[fail-safe]] points near the Soviet border.[[V bomber]]s" were designed and designated to be able to deliver British-made nuclear bombs to targets in European Russia. These bombers could have been able to reach and destroy cities like Kiev or Moscow before American strategic bombers. -During the 1970s France produced its [[Dassault Mirage IV]] nuclear-armed bomber for the [[French Air Force]] as a part of its independent nuclear strike force: the [[Force de frappe|Force de Frappe]] utilizing French-made bombers and [[IRBM]]s to deliver French-made nuclear bombs. These served in the bomber role through 1996, in reconnaissance through 2005. - -Nowadays, the French Republic has not limited its strategic armaments to a squadron of four [[nuclear power|nuclear-powered]] [[ballistic missile submarines]], with 16 SLBM tubes apiece. Indeed it maintains a considerable force of active stealth supersonic bombers carrying stand-off hypersonic nuclear missiles (the latter having a range of 500 kilometers and carrying the first nuclear device engineered since the nuclear test ban). Some of these are Rafale fighter-bombers capable of refueling others in flight. +The Soviet Union produced hundreds of unlicensed units of the American [[B-29 Superfortress]], which the [[Soviet Air Force]] called the [[Tupolev Tu-re Rafale fighter-bombers capable of refueling others in flight. More recent strategic bombers such as the [[Rockwell International]] [[B-1B Lancer]] bomber, the [[Tupolev Tu-160]], and the [[Northrop Grumman]] [[B-2 Spirit]] bomber incorporate various levels of [[stealth technology]] in their designs in an effort to avoid detection, especially by [[radar]] networks. @@ -36,11 +25,11 @@ [[File:B1s.jpg|thumb|right|[[USAF]] [[B-1 Lancer]] [[supersonic]] strategic bomber]] -Indeed, it is likely that the USAF's B-52 fleet will, with continual upgrades, outlive its squadrons of B-1Bs. However, the USAF has recently launched a program to study the production of a new strategic bomber to complement the current fleet. It is likely that this bomber would also serve as a replacement for both the B-52 and B-1. +Indeed, it is likely that the Unew strategic bomber to complement the current fleet. It is likely that this bomber would also serve as a replacement for both the B-52 and B-1. -In the case of the [[Russian Air Force]], new Tu-160 strategic bombers are expected to be delivered on a regular basis over the course of the next 10 to 20 years. In addition the current Tu-95 and Tu-160 bombers will be periodically updated, as was seen during the 1990s with the Tu-22M bombers. +In the case of the [[Russian Air Force]], new Tu-160 strategic bombers are expected to be delivered on a regular basis over the course of the next 10 to 20 years. current Tu-95 and Tu-160 bombers will be periodically updated, as was seen during the 1990s with the Tu-22M bombers. -During the Cold War, strategic bombers were primarily armed with nuclear weapons. However, since the end of the Cold War, bombers originally intended for strategic use have been exclusively employed using non-nuclear, [[high explosive]] weapons. During [[Operation Desert Storm]], the [[war in Afghanistan (2001–present)|military action in Afghanistan]], and the [[Invasion of Iraq in 2003]], American B-52s and B-1s were employed in mostly tactical roles. During the [[Soviet-Afghan war]] in 1979–88, Soviet Air Force Tu-95 carried out several mass [[strategic bombing|air raid]]s in various regions of that country. The North Korean air force has approximately 30 Harbin H-6 bombers in airworthy condition, giving it the ability to strike strategic targets in South Korea or western Japan. +During the Cold War, strategic bombers were primarily armed with nuclear weapons. However, since the end of the Cold War, bombers originally intended for strategic use have been exclusively employed using non-nuclear, [[high explosive]] weapons. During [[Operation Desert Storm]], the [[war in Afghanistan003]], American B-52s and B-1s were employed in mostly tactical roles. During the [[Soviet-Afghan war]] in 1979–88, Soviet Air Force Tu-95 carried out several mass [[strategic bombing|air raid]]s in various regions of that country. The North Korean air force hasy to strike strategic targets in South Korea or western Japan. ==Notable strategic bombers== These were the bombers used in the main or that represented a shift in heavy bomber design. @@ -50,8 +39,7 @@ * {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Caproni Ca.1 (1914)|Caproni Ca.1]] * {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Caproni Ca.3]] (1,700 lb) * {{flagicon|German Empire}} [[Gotha G.IV]] (1,100 lb) -* {{flagicon|UK}} [[Handley Page Type O]] (2,000 lb) -* {{flagicon|UK}} [[Handley Page V/1500]] (7,500 lb) +* {{flagicon|UK}} [[Handley Page Type O]] (2,K}} [[Handley Page V/1500]] (7,500 lb) * {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Sikorsky Ilya Muromets]] (1,100 lb) * {{flagicon|German Empire}} [[Zeppelin Staaken R.VI]] (4,400 lb) * {{flagicon|German Empire}} [[Zeppelin]] (about 5,000 lb) @@ -59,12 +47,7 @@ ===World War II=== * {{flagicon|USA}} [[B-17 Flying Fortress]] (8,000 lb) (theoretical maximum: 17,410 lb) * {{flagicon|USA}} [[B-24 Liberator]] (8,000 lb) -* {{flagicon|USA}} [[B-29 Superfortress]] (20,000 lb) -* {{flagicon|USA}} [[B-32 Dominator]] (20,000 lb) -* {{flagicon|UK}} [[Handley Page Halifax]] (13,000 lb)<ref>for the Mark III</ref> -* {{flagicon|UK}} [[Avro Lancaster]] (22,000 lb) -* {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Farman F.220]] (9,240 lb) -* {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Heinkel He 177]] (15,870 lb) +* {{flagicon|USA}} [[B-29 Superfortress]] (20,0icon|Nazi Germany}} [[Heinkel He 177]] (15,870 lb) * {{flagicon|USSR}} [[Petlyakov Pe-8]] (11,000 lb) * {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Piaggio P.108]] (7,700 lb) * {{flagicon|UK}} [[Short Stirling]] (18,000 lb) @@ -75,21 +58,14 @@ [[Image:Avro Vulcan Bomber RAF.JPEG|thumb|right|200px|[[Avro Vulcan]]]] [[File:Kremlin Tupolev Tu-160.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Tupolev Tu-160]]]] *'''[[Reciprocating engine|Reciprocating]]/[[Turboprop|Turbine]] engine''' -** {{flagicon|UK}} [[Avro Lincoln]] (22,000 lb) -** {{flagicon|USA}} [[P2V Neptune]] – nuclear-armed, based on [[aircraft carrier]]s -** {{flagicon|USA}} [[B-50 Superfortress]] (28,000 lb) -** {{flagicon|USSR}} [[Tupolev Tu-4]], reversed engineered version of B-29 Superfortress -** {{flagicon|USA}} [[B-36 Peacemaker]] (72,000 lb) +** {{flagicon|UK}} [[Avro Lincoln]] (22,000 lb)icon|USA}} [[B-36 Peacemaker]] (72,000 lb) ** {{flagicon|USSR}} [[Tupolev Tu-95]] (33,000 lb) *'''[[Jet engine]]''' ** {{flagicon|USA}} [[B-45 Tornado]] (22,000 lb) ** {{flagicon|USA}} [[B-47 Stratojet]] (25,000 lb) ** {{flagicon|USSR}} [[Myasishchev M-4]] (52,910 lb) ** {{flagicon|USSR}} [[Tupolev Tu-16]] (20,000 lb) -*** {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Xian H-6]] (20,000 lb) -** {{flagicon|USA}} [[B-52 Stratofortress]] (70,000 lb) -** {{flagicon|UK}} [[Vickers Valiant]] (21,000 lb) -** {{flagicon|UK}} [[Avro Vulcan]] (21,000 lb) +*** {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Xian H-6]] (20,** {{flagicon|UK}} [[Avro Vulcan]] (21,000 lb) ** {{flagicon|USA}} [[A3D Skywarrior]] – nuclear-armed, based on [[aircraft carrier]]s ** {{flagicon|UK}} [[Handley Page Victor]] (35,000 lb) *'''[[Supersonic aircraft|Supersonic]]''' @@ -97,10 +73,7 @@ ** {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dassault Mirage IV|Mirage IV]] (16,000 lb) ** {{flagicon|USA}} [[FB-111]], the somewhat-enlarged strategic-bomber version of the [[F-111 Aardvark]] tactical bomber ** {{flagicon|USSR}} [[Tupolev Tu-22]] Blinder (20,000 lb) -** {{flagicon|USSR}} [[Tupolev Tu-22M]] Backfire (46,300 lb) -** {{flagicon|USA}} [[B-1 Lancer]] (75,000 lb use of external hardpoints restricted by [[START I]]) -** {{flagicon|USSR}} [[Tupolev Tu-160]] Blackjack (88,200 lb) -** some other were designed and built but not entered in air force: +** {{flagicon|USSR}} [[Tupolev Tu-22Mme other were designed and built but not entered in air force: *** {{flagicon|USSR}} [[Myasishchev M-50]] Bounder *** {{flagicon|USA}} [[North American XB-70 Valkyrie]] *** {{flagicon|USSR}} [[Sukhoi T-4]] Sotka @@ -111,19 +84,16 @@ ===Future=== * {{flagicon|USA}} [[New Generation Bomber]]. A future stealth bomber (project) to at least complement the current fleet or supplant a portion or all of the B-52 or even B-1 fleet. A deployment time frame goal of 2018 has been established.<ref>[http://www.physorg.com/news73195391.html New Long-Range Bomber On Horizon For 2018]</ref> -* {{flagicon|USA}} [[2037 Bomber]]. A stealth, supersonic, long-range, heavy-payload, possibly unmanned strategic bomber (project) to replace the [[B-52 Stratofortress]] with a deployment time frame goal of 2037.<ref>Air Force Assoc. Feb. 2007, p. 11.</ref><ref>Tirpak, John A. [http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/1999/June%201999/0699bomber.aspx "The Bomber Roadmap"], Air Force Magazine, June 1999.</ref> -* {{flagicon|RUS}} [[PAK DA]] - +* {{flagicon|USA}} [[2037 Bomber]]. A stealth, supersonic, long-range, heavy-payload, possibly unmanned strategic bomber (project) to replace the [[B-52 Stratofortress]] with a deployment time ==See also== * [[Strategic bombing]] * [[Carpet bombing]] * [[Level bomber]] -* [[Tactical bombing]] +* [[Tactical bombing] ==References== {{reflist}} -* Brown, Michael E. Flying Blind: The Politics of the U.S. Strategic Bomber Program. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1992. * Cross, Robin. The Bombers: The Illustrated Story of Offensive Strategy and Tactics in the Twentieth Century. New York: Macmillan, 1987. * Green, William. Famous Bombers of the Second World War. New York: Doubleday, 1959, 1960 (two vols). * Green, William. Warplanes of the Third Reich. New York: Doubleday, 1970. @@ -131,10 +101,4 @@ * Hastings, Max. Bomber Command. New York: Dial Press, 1979 * Jones, Lloyd S. U.S. Bombers 1926 to 1980s. Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, 1980 (3rd ed.) * Neillands, Robin. The Bomber War: The Allied Offensive Against Nazi Germany. Woodstock, NY: Overlook, 2001. -* Robinson, Douglas H. The Zeppelin in Combat: A History of the German Naval Airship Division, 1912-1918. Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 1994. -* United States Strategic Bombing Survey. Over-all Report (European War). Washington: Government Printing Office, September 30, 1945. - -{{Military aircraft types (roles)}} - -[[Category:Bomber aircraft]] -[[Category:Russian inventions]] +* Robinson, Douglas H. The Zeppelin in Combat: A History of the German Naval Airsh '