A pair of U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers recently swept into the skies of the Northern Territory. Flying over the Top End, their mission included refuelling practice with a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, which helped to maintain the bombers’ global reach capability. Commonly referred to as the ‘Bone’(from “B-One”), the B-1B is the backbone of the United States long-range bomber force, and can carry a conventional payload of up to 34 tonnes of guided and unguided ordnance. Following the air-to-air refuelling, the pair landed at RAAF Base Darwin where they conducted a hot pit refuel supported by No. 13 Squadron aviation refuellers and USAF maintenance staff.
Air Base Executive Officer and No. 13 Squadron Executive Officer, Squadron Leader Michael Moroney, said,”This was the first time that USAF B-1Bs have been hot turn refuelled by RAAF using a JP157 hydrant cart. The safe and successful refuel highlights continued steps in our interoperability and provides validation for future USAF activities at RAAF Base Darwin. This was also the first use of the in-ground refuelling pits for USAF aircraft on the US-funded extension of the bomber replenishment apron. The operational use of this infrastructure, which was designed to be used by USAF and RAAF refuel equipment, is an important milestone for both Air Forces.”
The practice provided RAAF aviators an important opportunity to demonstrate their professional mastery and exercise their interoperability in challenging yet realistic conditions. U.S. bombers have been visiting RAAF Base Darwin for 80 years most recently as part of the Enhanced Air Cooperation activities which commenced in February 2017. The purpose of these is to build on the broad range of combined air exercises and training activities undertaken between the United States and Australia to strengthen bilateral collaboration through increased participation and joint training. These activities include integration of fifth generation capabilities, aero-medical evacuation interoperability training, and integrated aircraft maintenance activities.
The Rockwell B-1 Lancer is a supersonic variable-sweep wing, heavy bomber used by the United States Air Force. It is one of three strategic bombers serving in the U.S. Air Force fleet along with the B-2 Spirit and the B-52 Stratofortress as of 2022. Deliveries of the B-1B began in 1986 and formally entered service with Strategic Air Command (SAC) as a nuclear bomber that same year. By 1988, all 100 aircraft had been delivered. With the disestablishment of SAC and its reassignment to the Air Combat Command in 1992, the B-1B was converted for a conventional bombing role. It first served in combat during Operation Desert Fox in 1998 and again during the NATO action in Kosovo the following year. The B-1B has supported U.S. and NATO military forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Air Force has an inventory of 45 B-1Bs as of 2021.
