Summary Boeing funded new pylon for B-1B to relieve pressure on B-52 testing team. B-52H modernization projects have prompted shift to B-1B for hypersonic testing. LAM Pylon tested on B-1B hardpoint for GPS-guided bombs but not yet for hypersonics.
The US Air Force is getting a new pylon for the B-1B Lancer. The new pylon developed by Boeing initiative with Boeing funding, called a Load Adaptable Modular (LAM) Pylon, is intended to not just shift hypersonic testing from the B-52H to the B-1B but also give the B-1B new capabilities. Why did Boeing fund building a new pylon? Boeing, which bought the B-1B Lancer’s manufacturing corporation, Rockwell International, in 1996, has taken over research and development of the B-1B Lancer.
With multiple upgrades in progress on Boeing’s B-52H Stratofortress product, Boeing wanted to relieve some pressure on the B-52H testing team and saw an opportunity with a new pylon to give hypersonic testing work to the B-1B Lancer. Back on May 19, 2023, Air & Space Forces Magazine quoted Jennifer Wong, Boeing’s director of bomber programs as explaining, “Because of all the modernization efforts on the B-52, we can actually not take away from what we’re doing on the B-52 today to have it test hypersonics. So we will be doing hypersonics testing on the B-1.
” What modernization efforts on the B-52? Actually there are quite a few modernization projects in the works. B-52H modernization requiring work to shift The B-52H is being modernized in.