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[B]LAF unveils LAS-B2 Brightstar bomber[/i]

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The Brightstar is unveiled at the base of the 27th Bomber Squadron


The Lasatanian Air Force has taken delivery of the latest bomber developed by Lasatanian Aeronautical Industries. Based on the Russian Tu160 Blackjack design, the LAS-B2 'Brightstar' features improved engine performance, as well as a greater range of operation, thanks to a new low-speed fuel economy system developed in-house. The LAS-B2 provides the LAF with an intercontinental strike capability, tied with unsurpassed payload weight and high speed performance. The first squadron to be equipped with the new aircraft will be the 27th Bomber Squadron of Long Range Aviation; the so-called 'Red Hammer Squadron'. Exports of the new aircraft are planned in the near future.

Announcement from LasProd

To all nations. With the launch of the new LAS-B2, LAI offers client nations the opportunity to pre-order this exciting new aircraft. Full product details will be added to the LAI catalogue shortly, however nations wishing to express interest in the design should do so now, in order to secure priorty ordering.



Summary of features of LAS-B2 "Brightstar"

The LAS-B2 “Brightstar” is a multi-mission strategic bomber designed for operations ranging from subsonic speeds and low altitudes to speeds over Mach 1 at high altitudes. The two weapons bays can accommodate different mission-specific loads, including strategic cruise missiles, short-range guided missiles, nuclear and conventional bombs, and mines. Its basic armament of short-range guided missiles and strategic cruise missiles enables it to deliver nuclear strikes to targets with preassigned coordinates.In the future, after the aircraft is equipped with high-precision conventional weapons it may also be used against mobile or tactical targets.

The LAS-B2 “Brightstar” is characterized by low-mounted, swept-back, and tapered, variable geometry wings with large fixed-center section. The variable geometry wings (from 20 degrees up to 65 degrees) allows flight at supersonic and and subsonic speeds. Four LAI-XK22 [turbojet bypass engines with afterburners] of 28,000 kilograms-force power the LAS-B2. The four turbofans, developed by LAI in 1977, are mounted in pairs under the fixed-center section with square intakes and exhausts extending behind the wings’ trailing edges. The fuselage's slim structure is marked by a long, pointed, slightly upturned nose section and a stepped canopy. Tail flats are swept-back, tapered, and mid-mounted on the fin. The tail fin is back-tapered with a square tip and a fairing in the leading edge. The tail cone is located past the tail section. During the design of the aircraft, special attention was paid to reducing its signature. Measures were applied to reduce the signature of the engines to infra-red and radar detectors. Tests of these survivability measures were first tested on a LAS-B1 aircraft in 1980.

As the most powerful combat aircraft of the LAF, the LAS-B2 flies at 2,000 km/hr and can exceed the 2,000 mark with a mission-specific load. The LAS-B2 can climb 60-70 meters per second and reach heights of up 15,000 meters. The bomber can be refueled during flight by IL-78 and ZMS-2 tanker aircraft. The air refueling system consists of a probe and drogue airborne refueling system.

The LAS-B2 “Brightstar” can carry up to 12 Kh-55 long range missiles and Kh-15 short range missiles. The weapons bays can accommodate different loads: carries various bombs: From fee falling nuclear and regular up to 1500 kg bombs. The bomber is not equipped with artillery armament.

The LAS-B2 “Brightstar” is equipped with a combined navigation-and-weapon aiming system, RID; [radar] for detecting targets on the ground and sea at long distances, an optical-electronic bombsight, an automatic terrain-following system, and active and passive radio-electronic warfare systems, as well as a probe-and-drogue airborne refueling system. It is equipped with K-36DM ejection seats. The cockpit instruments are the traditional electromechanical type. The aircraft is controlled with the aid of a central control column. The engine control throttles are located between the pilots' seats. There is a rest area, a toilet, and a cupboard for warming up food.