The B-1B and TU-22M3 are almost the same size variable sweep wing long-range supersonic strategic bombers (that’s a lot of adjectives) and yet the American plane is superior in every respect except speed (and let’s be real, you don’t need a bomber that goes mach 2, or close to it). Why is that? It would be like having a Ferrari and a Lamborghini that are the same weight, same size, and one hauls ass with twice as much cargo over twice the distance while the other trades all that for 50% more speed. I don’t understand it. Is speed that big a trade off?
That thing on the B-1, the tail, that’s a radome, it’s not a fuel tank.
B-1B
Crew: 4
Length: 45 m
Wingspan: 42 m
Wing area: 181 m2
Height: 10 m
Empty Weight: 87,090 kg
Gross Weight: 147,871 kg
Max Speed: Mach 1.25
Combat Range: 5,543 km (how in the world can they be that precise?)
Bomb load: 34,000 kg (internal)
TU-22M3
Crew: 4
Length: 42.46 m
Wingspan: 34.28 m
Wing area: 183.6 m2
Height: 11.05 m
Empty Weight: 58,000 kg
Gross Weight: 112,000 kg
Max Speed: Mach 1.88
Combat Range: 2,500 km
Bomb load: 17,250 kg (internal)
The Russian plane is virtually the same exact size as the American plane, it’s 66% faster and 66% lighter, carries 50% of the payload, and travels 45% the distance. Does that make sense?
Would it be possible to make the Russian plane slower, make the ass end a little wider to fit a second bomb bay, so could more bombs a greater distance?