T
he B-1B bomber, commonly called “Bone,” has dropped more bombs than any other aircraft since the global war on terror began, says Lt. Col. Michael Eliason, director of operations for 9th Bomb Squadron at Dyess AFB, Tex. “We’ve become an exceptional close air support asset and are often the weapon of choice because of our loiter capability and payload,” asserts Eliason. The Bone, which holds 100 world records for speed, payload and distance, can carry more weapons—guided or unguided—and can fly low level or high altitude at 900 plus miles per hour.
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
