At Aero India 2021, the American B-1B Lancer heavy bomber had the flying debut for India, at the 13th edition of the biennial show on Wednesday, for exhibiting its qualities and capabilities. The long range, multi-role bomber had been flown to Bengaluru a week prior the Aero show, starting from the Ellsworth Air Force Base, based in USA’s South Dakota, to perform a fly-by for the exhibition and air show.
The US Consulate revealed that the supersonic bomber has the ability of carrying out missions on an international scale from the bases in the United States, along with the far deployed locations.
A defence official revealed to the IANS, “The Boeing’s B1-Bomber flew along with the Made in India Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas during the flying display of various military aircraft at the inaugural event of the three-day air show at the Yelahanka base of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on the city’s outskirts.”
The Bomber is powered by four General Electric F101-GE-102 turbofan engines with afterburner, having 137 feet wingspan, 146 feet length, 34 feet and has a weight of 86,183 kg.
In a factsheet, Boeing iterated, “The bomber’s maximum take-off weight is 2, 16,634 kg and it has a capacity to carry 1, 20,326 kg and can fly at 900 miles per hour at over 30,000 feet.”
The bomber has been nicknamed as ‘The Bone’, it has been specially assigned for the combat operations held in Afghanistan and Iraq from 2001.
US, as a major partner of India, has taken part in Aero India 2021 as a move intended towards strengthening the defence ties built with India., synchronizing the vision of free and open Indo-Pacific region. The top firms based in US are also contributing for the maiden hybrid exhibition during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Continuing with the bilateral ties until now, the US Air Force Band of the Pacific-based out of Hawaii will be performing along with ghatam artist Giridhar Udupa at Aero India.
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