American bombers are elite strategic aviation. Along with submarine missile carriers and ground-based intercontinental missiles, they make up the backbone of the nuclear triad. This power is considered the determining force in global containment of world military disasters.
American bombers of World War II
The range of strike aircraft B-17 FF was produced at the production facilities of Boeing, Douglas, Lochid. Production falls on 1936-1945. All produced 7000 cars had an all-metal construction with a linen sheathing of the tail plumage and a camouflaged chassis.
These combat aircraft were also operated by the British Navy. Twelve captured units flew in the Luftwaffe squadrons, like the Dornier DO 200.
Specifications of the specified American bomber:
- dimensions / wing in scope - 22.7 / 5.8 / 31.6 m;
- empty / take-off weight - 16.4 / 29.7 t;
- types of motors - "Cyclone" 1820-97 in the power parameter of 1200 liters. with.;
- fuel tank capacity - up to 13.7 thousand liters;
- maximum speed - 525 km / h;
- flight range - up to 5.7 thousand km;
- armament - 13 Browning machine-gun mounts with a caliber of 12.7 mm, bombs weighing 2.3 tons;
- the composition of the team is 10 people.
Boeing B-29
Another American bomber has been manufactured by Boeing, Martin, and Bell corporations since 1943. It was this model that attacked Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic ammunition in the summer of 45th. The design of the machine is a mid-plane with a solid free-bearing metal body, equipped with an elongated wing and a rounded fuselage.
The aircraft was assembled from sheet profiles. The ammunition had remote control, the design includes three pressurized cabs, a chassis with three racks, double wheels and a pair of bomb compartments. In total, 3.9 thousand units of this modification were manufactured.
TTX:
- overall dimensions - 30200/8500 mm;
- wing span - 43000 mm;
- empty / take-off weight - 32.4 / 63.5 t;
- power plants - Wright 3350 motors (4 pieces) with a power of 2.2 thousand liters. with.;
- the capacity of the fuel tanks is 35 thousand liters;
- speed threshold - 643 km / h;
- flight range - 6380 km;
- armament - 12.7 mm machine-gun mounts (12 pieces), bomb stock - 9000 kg;
- the composition of the team is 11 people.
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
The heavy American strategic bomber was made by the corporations Consolidide, North American, Douglas, Ford Motor. Years of production - 1940-45. Several variations appeared in the series, which differed in power plants, weapons, and equipment. The design of the machine is a one-piece housing with a three-bearing transforming chassis. The series has more than 18 thousand units.
Options:
- dimensions - 20600/5700 mm;
- wing size, taking into account the scope - 33500 mm;
- empty / take-off weight - 17.2 / 35.2 t;
- motors - four "Prat & Whitney" for 1.2 thousand liters. with.;
- speed limit - 488 km / h;
- flight range - 3.7 thousand km;
- ammunition - 12.7 mm (10 pieces) and eight 7.62 mm Browning machine guns, four 20 mm caliber guns, 3600 kg bomb supply;
- the number of team members is up to 10.
B-32 Dominator
This American bomber is a heavy monoplane with a cantilevered high wing and a three-post landing gear. The technique had a double keel plumage of the tail, elongated wing. A total of 118 units of this series were manufactured.
Characteristics:
- dimensions - 25300/10100 mm;
- wingspan - 41200 mm;
- empty / take-off weight - 27000/50500 kg;
- motors - four "engines" Wright R-3350 with a power parameter of 2.2 thousand liters. with.;
- speed limit - 575 km / h;
- range - 4.8 thousand km;
- combat stock - 12.7 mm Browning machine guns (10 pcs.), the bomb set was 9.1 tons;
- team - 10 people
Douglas B-18A and A-20 G
The mid-range combat aircraft Douglas B-18A was manufactured in 1936-38. 350 copies were produced in three main variations. Also, the machine was operated by the Canadian and Brazilian Air Force.
Options:
- dimensions - 17600/4600 mm;
- wing span - 27300 mm;
- empty / take-off weight - 7.4 / 12.6 t;
- power units - a pair of Wright R Cyclone motors per one thousand liters. with.;
- speed threshold - 346 km / h;
- flight range - 1.9 thousand km;
- in the ammunition - three 7.62 mm machine gun kits, a bomb stock - 3000 kg;
- team composition - 6 people
Another A-20 mid-range bomber has been manufactured since 1939. Made 7.5 thousand units of this series. States in which the aircraft was operated: USA, France, Britain.
Options:
- dimensions - 14500/5400 mm;
- wing size, taking into account the scope - 18700 mm;
- empty / take-off weight - 6800/12300 kg;
- motors - a pair of "engines" Wright R-2600 with a power of 1.7 thousand liters. with.;
- maximum speed - 540 km / h;
- combat stock - eight machine guns with a caliber of 12.7 mm, weight of bombs - 1800 kg;
- team - 4 people
American modern bombers
In the modern US Air Force, the strategic bombers B-52, B-2 (Spirit) and B-1B (Lancer) are in service. The latter model was developed specifically for nuclear attacks on enemy territory. However, in the 90s, the aircraft was withdrawn from the army. Aircraft B-1B Lancer is often compared with the Russian Tu-160. It is worth noting that the latter they are inferior in size. According to available information, 12 V-2, 73 V-52 modifications are in combat readiness.
BoeingB-52 Stratofortress
The specified long-range American bomber was created during the Cold War. It belongs to one of the symbols of a superpower and is the basis of strategic US air forces. The aircraft is capable of carrying nuclear charges on board, the first flight was made back in 1952.
About $ 12 billion is planned to be spent on upgrading the aircraft. According to experts, each unit in this series is able to fly 83 years (until 2040). In total, 744 copies were produced. The aircraft is made according to the standard aerodynamic configuration with inflated wing placement. Eight power units are located in twin motor bays. Type of wing - all-metal coffered element with a pair of side members.
The crew of the American bomber B-52 includes six people. The upper cockpit is low, designed to accommodate the commander, co-pilot and electronic warfare instructor. The keel can be folded to the right for storage in the hangar, the chassis - a bicycle structure, includes four main racks and two supports at the ends of the wing. As engines, motors of the Pratt & Whitney-57 type turbojet engine are used.
Characteristics:
- length / height - 49.05 / 12.4 m;
- wingspan - 56.39 m;
- take-off weight - 221.5 t;
- maximum speed - 1013 km / h;
- range in combat conditions - 7.73 thousand km;
- take-off run - 2.9 km;
- in service - 20-mm cannon "Volcano", bomb load - 27.2 tons
B-2 spirit
These American supersonic bombers are the most high-tech and expensive in the world. The price of one copy exceeds two billion dollars. The first models were released back in the 80s of the last century. After 10 years, the program was mothballed due to the high cost of the project, which was not even within the reach of the United States.
For the specified period, 21 units were manufactured. Aircraft made using stealth technology. This figure is significantly lower than the compact modifications F-22 and F-35. B-2 is equipped only with free-falling bombs, which reduces the efficiency of using cars against an enemy equipped with modern air defense systems. For example, a domestic S-400 SAM can easily detect Spirit. As a result, these aircraft are considered to be rather ambiguous bombers in terms of efficiency in a nuclear conflict.
The aircraft in question is made as a “flying wing”, has no vertical tail. The design is for the most part made of aluminum and titanium alloy with the participation of carbon fiber components of increased thermal stability.
TTX of the V-2 aircraft:
- length / height - 20.9 / 5.45 m;
- wing span - 52.4 m;
- empty / take-off weight - 56.7 / 168.4 t;
- power unit - four engines turbofan General Electric F118-GE;
- speed threshold - 1.01 thousand km / h;
- practical range - 18.5 thousand km;
- crew - 3 people.
