Editing Rockwell B-1 Lancer (section)

===B-1A program===
[[File:RARF Antenna, Reflecting Array Radio Frequency, Raytheon, 1968-1969, Ku-band, over 3500 phase shifting modules, for the AN-APQ-140 radar - National Electronics Museum - DSC00376.JPG|thumb|right|150px|[[AN/APQ-140]] radar for the B-1A<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/jetds/an-apq.html |title=AN/APQ – Airborne Multipurpose/Special Radars |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=1 July 2007 |website=Designation-systems.net |access-date=2015-01-27 |archive-date=28 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928230343/http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/jetds/an-apq.html |url-status=live }}</ref>]]

President [[Richard Nixon]] reestablished the AMSA program after taking office, keeping with his administration's [[flexible response]] strategy that required a [[Single Integrated Operations Plan#Counterforce migrates to deterrence and warfighting|broad range of options short of general nuclear war]].<ref name="Knaack p.579">{{harvnb|Knaack|1988|p=579.}}</ref> Nixon's Secretary of Defense, [[Melvin Laird]], reviewed the programs and decided to lower the numbers of FB-111s, since they lacked the desired range, and recommended that the AMSA design studies be accelerated.<ref name="Knaack p.579"/> In April 1969, the program officially became the ''B-1A''.<ref name="Schwartz p.119"/><ref name="Knaack p.579"/> This was the first entry in the [[1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system|new bomber designation series]], created in 1962. The Air Force issued a request for proposals in November 1969.<ref name=Pace_p22-3/>

[[File:Rockwell B-1A 1.jpg|thumb|left|B-1A prototype]]
Proposals were submitted by Boeing, General Dynamics and North American Rockwell in January 1970.<ref name=Pace_p22-3/><ref>Kocivar, Ben. [https://books.google.com/books?id=9AAAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA86 "Our New B-1 Bomber&nbsp;– High, Low, Fast, and Slow."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202092349/https://books.google.com/books?id=9AAAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA86 |date=2 February 2023 }} ''Popular Science'', Volume 197, Issue 5, November 1970, p. 86.</ref> In June 1970, North American Rockwell was awarded the development contract.<ref name=Pace_p22-3>{{harvnb|Pace|1998|pp=22–23.}}</ref> The original program called for two test airframes, five flyable aircraft, and 40 engines. This was cut in 1971 to one ground and three flight test aircraft.<ref name="Knaack p.584">{{harvnb|Knaack|1988|p=584.}}</ref> The company changed its name to [[Rockwell International]] and named its aircraft division North American Aircraft Operations in 1973.<ref>[http://www.boeing.com/history/narrative/n086roc.html "Rockwell International history 1970–1986."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011202047/http://www.boeing.com/history/narrative/n086roc.html |date=11 October 2007}} Boeing. Retrieved 8 October 2009.</ref> A fourth prototype, built to production standards, was ordered in the fiscal year 1976 budget. Plans called for 240 B-1As to be built, with [[initial operational capability]] set for 1979.<ref name="Sorrels p.27">{{harvnb|Sorrels|1983|p=27.}}</ref>

Rockwell's design had features common to the F-111 and XB-70. It used a [[escape crew capsule|crew escape capsule]], that ejected as a unit to improve crew survivability if the crew had to abandon the aircraft at high speed. Additionally, the design featured large variable-sweep wings in order to provide both more [[lift (force)|lift]] during takeoff and landing, and lower drag during a high-speed dash phase.<ref name="lee p.13"/> With the wings set to their widest position the aircraft had a much better airfield performance than the B-52, allowing it to operate from a wider variety of bases. Penetration of the Soviet Union's defenses would take place at [[supersonic speed]], crossing them as quickly as possible before entering the more sparsely defended interior of the country where speeds could be reduced again.<ref name="lee p.13"/> The large size and fuel capacity of the design would allow the "dash" portion of the flight to be relatively long.

In order to achieve the required Mach&nbsp;2 performance at high altitudes, the exhaust nozzles and air [[intake ramp]]s were variable.<ref>{{harvnb|Whitford|1987|p=136.}}</ref> Initially, it had been expected that a Mach&nbsp;1.2 performance could be achieved at low altitude, which required that titanium be used in critical areas in the fuselage and wing structure. The low altitude performance requirement was later lowered to Mach&nbsp;0.85, reducing the amount of titanium and therefore cost.<ref name="Knaack p.584"/> A pair of small [[Canard (aeronautics)|vanes]] mounted near the nose are part of an active vibration damping system that smooths out the otherwise bumpy low-altitude ride.<ref>Schefter, Jim. [https://books.google.com/books?id=cwEAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA110 "The Other Story About The Controversial B-1."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208140009/https://books.google.com/books?id=cwEAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA110#v=onepage&q&f=false |date=8 February 2024 }} ''Popular Science'', Volume 210. Issue 5, May 1977, p. 112.</ref> The first three B-1As featured the escape capsule that ejected the cockpit with all four crew members inside. The fourth B-1A was equipped with a conventional [[ejection seat]] for each crew member.<ref>{{harvnb|Spick|1986|pp=30–32.}}</ref>

The B-1A mockup review occurred in late October 1971; this resulted in 297 requests for alteration to the design due to failures to meet specifications and desired improvements for ease of maintenance and operation.<ref name="Knaack p.586">{{harvnb|Knaack|1988|p=586.}}</ref> The first B-1A prototype (Air Force serial no. 74–0158) flew on 23 December 1974.<ref>Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1975–76, John W.R.Taylor, {{ISBN|0531032507}}, p. 439</ref> As the program continued the per-unit cost continued to rise in part because of high [[inflation]] during that period. In 1970, the estimated unit cost was $40 million, and by 1975, this figure had climbed to $70 million.<ref>{{harvnb|Jenkins|1999|p=44.}}</ref>