CENTCOM:B-1B Lancers Participated in Retaliatory Raids - plus what radio experts revealed about their mission

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that Rockwell B-1B Lancer strategic bombers participated in retaliatory raids against Iranian Republican Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and afiiliated miltia groups in Iraq and Syria.Both Iraq and Syria denounced the raids which they said amounted to aggression.Beginning on 2 February 2024,radio experts ascertained that B-1Bs were on the move.The bombers are out of Dyess Air Force Base,Texas.The Lancer bombers communicate via a UHF satellite,and one is able to piece the puzzle together based on snippets of information from these communications only an expert can put together.* The experts ascertained that the 2-3 B-1Bs were refueled over Nova Scotia,Canada by KC-135 Stratotankers.They then proceeded across the Atlantic Ocean until they reached Spain,where the were again refueled by KC-135s out of the UK.Air Force Global Strike Command deploys B-1Bs as needed.For this mission,the bombers were to fire precision cruisse missiles at seven sites and across 85 targets in Iraq and Syria.They typically carry up to 24 Northrop Grumman AGM-158B JASSEM-ER subsonic cruise missiles.Their targets included command centres;drone and rocket arsenals;and thier production facilities.Thermal images of the target guide these missiles with an acccuracy of less than 9.8 ft. from the targets.The warheads can strike on impact,be set for delayed impact or set to splinter into fragments.Dozens of militants were reportedly killed in the raids.*The Department of Defense will continue to strike militants at a time and place of their choosing.* The original builder of the B-1B,Rockwell,became part of Rockwell Collins,which again morphed into Collins Aerospace,now a subsidiary of Raytheon Corporation.*Northrop Grumman (NOC),Raytheon Corporation (RTX)

Feeling the Impact:Sequestration and the Defence Industry

Drastic and arbitrary US budget cuts are hindering the defence industry in a big way.Sequestration is the single worst piece of public policy in my 35 years of experience,said Clay Jones,CEO of  leading defence contractor Rockwell Collins.We've laid off 150 in Iowa and the rest of the year will lay off another 150 throughout our enterprise.
That's just the tip of the iceberg.One of the biggest problems is,it is impossible to plan.2014 will be even worse.We already took 60 million in restructuring charges.We don't like it,but we're gonna manage well.
Our defence business went down 8% last year;it will go down another 10% this year.By 2015,however,our commercial business will grow 10%.There's a high demand for fuel-efficient aircraft.We're about 33-35% international.That will grow to over 40% by 2020.
We'll be paid eventually.The biggest impact will be on the cash flow.
We produce the helmet-mounted sight for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter-the most Buck Rogers thing in the aircraft,so I think we're secure in that project.
Senator Ben Cardin,D-Maryland,said he doesn't expect any progress in resolving the sequestration issue.
Rockwell says the world's leading aerospace and defence companies rely on them for smart communications and aviation electronics solutions.Their products span displays,electronic warfare/intelligence,navigation and guidance,precision targeting and weapons,space components and other engineering applications.
Rockwell Collins,Inc(COL)