Golden Age Weaponsmiths B-1S Lancer Heavy Bomber:

The B-1B Lancer Bomber, combined with the old B-52 Stratofortress Bomber and the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber, formed the backbone of the United States Air Forces for several decades starting in the Nineteen-Nineties. When production resumed on bombers, the United States Air Force decided on the B-1 because it was more flexible than the B-2 bomber.

This version became the B-1S bomber. It was designed to increase stealth with the use of advanced ceramics and plastics and a slightly revised profile. It also was designed using engines derived from the engines used on the F-22 Raptor fighter. This allowed the bomber to cruise at supersonic speeds and a greatly increased top speed. In addition, the aircraft were modified for longer range.

These aircraft were retired but since they were made from high strength composites and alloys, they did not suffer from corrosion as other aircraft did. They were put in careful storage for possible future use along with a number of F-22 Raptor Advance Tactical Fighters. Even so, the bombers were virtually forgotten about. Somehow a number survived the coming of the Rifts.

A mercenary company found one of these cache of various aircraft including both B-1S Lancer Bombers and F-22 Raptor Advance Tactical Fighters. This company did not operate much in the way of aircraft and they were of little use to the mercenaries. Instead, they sold the information on the location to Golden Age Weaponsmiths. The weapon company quickly sent out teams to recover these aircraft.

After Golden Age Weaponsmiths recovered them, the company worked on a plan to refit the vehicles and sell them. The Coalition did purchase a number of the aircraft for research and development but considered them of limited utility. As a result, most of the bombers were sold to smaller governments and mercenary companies. The Coalition has regretted not purchasing all of the bombers because some have been sold to groups that are less than friendly to the Coalition States. Because of the combination of advanced stealth features and high speed, the bombers are considered in many ways more dangerous than the Air Castle bomber was to the Coalition.

The refit of the B-1S Lancer bomber had to be extremely cautiously done so as not to compromise the bomber's stealth. Only certain composites and plastics could be used in improving the armor without reducing the stealth. These materials are more expensive than those normally used and increase how much these aircraft have cost to refit. This makes the B-1S Lancer one of the most expensive aircraft refitted by Gold Age Weaponsmiths.

The B-1S Lancer does mount conventional engines although the next generation of aircraft mounted fusion turbines. These engines mostly have needed to be rebuilt by Golden Age Weaponsmiths although Golden Age engineers are quite skilled at rebuilding aircraft engines. Original electronics are retained although they are reconditioned as well. In some cases, components need to be replaced by modern components because the original components simply are not available.

Even though extremely fast, the B-1 Lancer is not designed as a fighter, As such, it does not mount a gun. It can carry air to air ordinance although rarely carried. It has the ability to carry external ordnance as well although reduces stealth when carried. A few purchasers have added guns but standard versions do not carry any ordnance other than bombs or missiles. While longer ranged than any conventional fighter, additional fuel tanks can also be carried to extend the bomber's range further. These take the place of ordnance in the main bomb bay.

Golden Age Weaponsmiths has also found a number of B-1B bombers and has refitted those bombers as well. These bombers have also been listed along with the B-1S bombers. They are slower, cannot carry as much ordnance, and do not have the extended range because they do not have the super cruise engines. They also do not have as good stealth features as the B-1S Bomber does. As well, ther were not constructed from the advanced composites and plastics are much less tough as a result. Even so, these older B-1B Bombers make the Coalition nervous due to their capabilities. No B-1A Bombers have been found. While faster than the B-1B, they lack most of the stealth.

Model Type:	B-1B	Original Lancer Bomber
	B-1S	Upgraded Lancer Bomber

Vehicle Type: Strategic Bomber
Crew: Four (Pilot, Copilot, and two crew)

M.D.C. By Location:

B-1B

B-1S:

	Ordnance Bay:	200	250
	[1] Wings (2):	220 each	280 each
	[2] Elevators (2):	90 each	110 each
	[2] Rudders:	100 each	120 each
	Cockpit:	150	180
	[3] Engines (4):	100	100
	Landing Gear (3):	10 each	10 each
	[4] Main Body:	480	550

Notes:
[1] Destroying a Wing will cause the plane to crash. Bomber Crew must eject to survive.
[2] Destruction of rudders or one elevator will still allow the aircraft to be controlled by the varying of power levels of the engines but bomber has a penalty of -10 to dodge, and a -30% penalty to all piloting rolls. Destruction of both of the elevators will leave the plane uncontrollable and Bomber Crew must eject to survive.
[3] The destruction of one engine will reduce the bombers top speed by one quarter and give the pilot a -2 penalty to dodge as well as giving a 5% penalty to piloting. The destruction of additional engines will give cumulative penalties.
Destruction of all four engines will cause the aircraft to crash. Pilot may attempt a emergency landing or bomber crew can choose to eject.
[4] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the Aircraft down completely, rendering it useless and causing it to crash if in flight. Bomber Crew must eject to survive. Damage to the main body will also reduce the aircrafts stealth, for every 10% of damage to the main body, reduce the aircrafts stealth by 10% of its total.

Speed:
Driving on Ground (Taxiing): Only possible for take offs and landings as well as for parking and storage. Speed is 40 mph (64 kph) when traveling and not on take off or landing.
Flying: The B-1S Lancer has a top speed of Mach 3.06 (2268 mph/ 3790 kph) because of the bombers super cruise engines and bomber can run at afterburner for extended periods (assume in game terms up to thirty minutes). Top speed is reduced by about 10% when fully loaded with external ordnance. The bomber can also cruise up to mach 1.1 (847 mph/ 1362 kph) but bombers cruise speed depends on mission and situation. Maximum altitude is 80,000 feet (24,380 meters)
The original B-1A could reach up to Mach 2.55 and the B-1B Bomber could reach speeds up to Mach 1.4 and a maximum altitude of 60,000 feet (18,000 meters)
Range: 9,715 nautical miles (11,180 statute miles / 17,992 kilometers) with an internal ordnance load. The bomber can carry additional fuel in place of internal ordnance. Replacing one third of internal ordinance load with fuel tankage increases range by one third. Bomber has approximately 20% better range when the aircraft is carrying no ordnance. The Lancer can be refueled in the air.
The older B-1B Bomber had a range of 6473.9 nautical miles (7,455 miles / 11,997.8 kilometers).

Statistical Data:
Height: 34 feet (10.4 meters)
Wingspan: 137 feet (41.8 meter) with wings unswept and 78 feet (23.8 meters) with wings swept back.
Length: 147 feet (44.8 meters)
Weight: B-1S: 490,000 pounds (222,460 kg) fully loaded. The B-1B: 477,000 pounds (214,650 kg) fully loaded
Power System: Conventional, the B-1S uses four high efficiency super cruise engines, uses aviation fuel.
Cargo: Minimal (Storage for equipment for the bomber crew) in the cockpit. Does not include hard points and ordnance bay. Ordnance bay, of emptied of ordnance can carry up to 50,000 lbs (22,700 kg) of cargo.
Black Market Cost: 30 million credits (Can sometimes sell for double that price). Refitted B-1B Bombers are sold at 20 million credits (Can also sometimes sell for double that price).

Weapon Systems:

1. One (1) Main Ordnance Bay: The bomber has a large bay in the main body that carry a wide variety of different ordnance types. Ordnance types include missiles, torpedoes, naval mines, and bombs. Missile and bombs sizes may be mixed between different types of ordnance but an ordnance drop or launch must include the same type and size of ordnance. Ordnance may be carried at the rate of four short range missile, four light bombs, two medium range missile, or two medium bombs for one long range missile or heavy bomb. One Cruise missile or extra heavy bomb may also be carried instead of two long range missiles or heavy bombs. Both guided and unguided ordnance may be carried. Launching of ordnance is controlled by the weapons officer but the pilot and copilot has emergency controls. When the Ordnance bay is opened, the bomber is far move easily detected by radar from underneath.
   Maximum Effective Range: Varies by missile type for missile and varies by altitude bomb is dropped at (Go to Revised bomb and missile table for details.)
   Mega Damage: Varies by missile or bomb type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table for details.)
   Rate of Fire: Ordnance is dropped or fired one at a time or in volleys of two (2), five (5), ten (10), or twenty (20) but must be the same size (light, medium, or heavy) and style of ordnance (all missiles or bombs in a volley)
   Payload: 200 short range missile or light bombs, 100 medium range missiles or medium bombs, 50 long range missile or heavy bomb, or 25 cruise missile or extra heavy bombs. Ordnance can be mixed and naval mines may be carried as well as missiles and bombs. (B-1B is limited to about 80% of this ordnance).
2. Twelve (12) External Hard points: The bomber has twelve hard points to carry additional ordnance. Each hard point can carry one extra heavy bomb or cruise missile. The hard point can also carry a variety of different ordnance on a hard point. Two long range missiles or heavy bombs, four medium range missiles or medium bombs, or eight short range missiles or light bombs may be substituted on a hard point. Both guided and unguided ordnance may be carried. Launching of ordnance is controlled by the weapons officer but the pilot and copilot has emergency controls. Many bomber crews will carry missile for anti fighter defense on these hard points.
   Maximum Effective Range: Varies by missile type for missile and varies by altitude bomb is dropped at (Go to Revised bomb and missile table for details.)
   Mega Damage: Varies by missile or bomb type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table for details.)
   Rate of Fire: Missiles can be fired and bombs can be dropped one at a time per hard point. Multiple hard points can be linked as one attack but must be the same size (light, medium, or heavy) and style of ordnance (all missiles or bombs in a volley).
   Payload: Eight (8) short range missile or light bombs, four (4) medium range missiles or medium bombs, two (2) long range missile or heavy bombs, or one (1) cruise missile or extra heavy bomb (all ordnance on a hard point must be the same size and type of ordnance) can be carried on each hard point.
3. One (1) Anti-Missile Chaff/Flare Dispenser: Use the same effects as the TRIAX model. However, each time the system is engaged, the system fires off two chaff and 2D4 flares. Rifts Earth decoys systems are assumed to not operate against Phase World missiles due to technological difference. Reduce effects by 20% against smart missiles (Add +20% to rolls for smart missiles.)
   Effect:
   01-50 Enemy missile or missile volley detonates in chaff cloud - Missile are all destroyed
   51-75 Enemy missile or missile volley loses track of real target and veers away in wrong direction (May lock onto another target
   76-00 No effect, missile is still on target
   Also note that the chaff cloud will also blind flying monsters that fly through cloud. They will suffer the following penalties: reduce melee attacks/actions, combat bonuses, and speed by half. Duration: 1D4 melee rounds.
   Payload: 80 chaff, 160 flares. Each time the system is engaged, the system fires off two chaff and 2D4 flares.
4. Eight (8) Towed Decoys: These are mounted in dispensers near the rear of the bombers with four decoys in each of two dispenser on the aircraft. These drones are dragged about 328 feet (100 meters) behind the aircraft on a thin cable. Each is a specially designed radar lure that creates a radar image to mimic the aircraft. If decoys are not destroyed, they can be recovered and repaired. Rifts Earth decoy systems are assumed to not operate against Phase World weapons due to technological difference.
   M.D.C.: 5 each
   Effects: The decoy has an 65% chance of fooling ordinary non military radars and non smart guided missiles, the decoy has a 35% chance of fooling military level radars (like those of the Coalition), and the decoy has a 10% chance of fooling advanced military radars (Like those of the New Navy and Triax) and smart missiles.
   Range: Not Applicable although decoy is deployed 328 feet (100 meters) from the aircraft
   Rate of Fire: One can be deployed at a time and requires 15 seconds to deploy (Reel Out) another decoy
   Payload: Eight (8) Decoys [Four (4) each]

Special Equipment:
The equipment of the bomber has been upgraded but many of the original systems are still on the bomber. Consider the fighter to carry all standard equipment that robot vehicles carry (not including loudspeaker and microphone) plus the following extra systems:

• Stealth Feature: The B-1S bomber has a advanced stealth feature and has a -80% to be detected because of its stealth. The B-1B Bombers stealth features are not as efficient as the B-1S and has a -50 % to be detected because of its stealth. On both the B-1S or B-1B bomber, opening the Ordnance bay greatly increase the aircrafts radar signature from the underside of the aircraft and aircraft creates no penalties to be detected in those conditions. In addition, while the aircraft remains hard to detect on radar, the bombers external ordnance is easy to detect (and the bomber as a result) unless the ordnance is designed from radar absorbing materials as well. Reduce aircrafts stealth by 5% for every hard point carrying ordinance. For example, if two of the hard points are carrying ordinance the aircrafts would give a -70% penalty to be detected (80%-10%=70%)
  Go to General Detection Penalties for more information on penalties and bonuses to use with stealth.
• Radar System: Medium range radar capable of tracking both air targets and ground targets. The radar system also has terrain following capacity. Range: 173 miles (150 nautical miles/ 278 kilometers.)
• Internal Active Jamming Gear: Causes -25% to detection but when it is active, other vehicles/ bases can detect that it is jamming, and some missiles will home in on jamming signals. Jamming also causes a -4 penalty to all radar guided weapons.
• E.S.M.: Radar Detector, Passively detects other radars being operated.
• FLIR: Forward Looking Infrared. Allows pilot and weapons officer to get visuals on targets at night.

+1 to dodge
+3 to dodge while traveling over 250 mph

[Golden Age Weaponsmiths, Wellington Industries, and TRIAX are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]

Image drawn and copyrighted by Lou Drendel (mentor29@mail.idt.net).
More of his artwork at Artwork by Lou Drendel

By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Copyright © 1998, 2001, & 2011, Kitsune. All rights reserved.