NEW STRENGTH FOR AMERICAN DEFENSE

a [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] America's new b1b bombers are moving out of the factory onto the airfields bringing new strength to America's defense [Music] the B1 is a topof thee line bomber it's the best bomber in the world today the airplane that we just parked out in front on the ramp is going to serve as an essential part of this nation's nuclear deterrent capability for decades to come but the B1 will also serve a critical part of our nation's conventional deterrent as well since the first b1b rolled out of the factory in September 1984 dozens more have been delivered to the Air Force and now they are rolling off the line at a rate of four per month Strategic Air Command Crews at two main operating bases are already giving the new bombers a real workout [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] initial deliveries to elworth Air Force Base South Dakota coincided with completion of deliveries to das Air Force Base Texas sack's first b1b main operating base when Ellsworth has its full complement of new bombers deliveries will begin to Grand Forks Air Force Base North Dakota and finally to McConnell Air Force Base Kansas in all 100 b-1bs will be delivered to the Air Force by April 1988 now b1b is standing alert at Das Air Force Base Texas the first b1b went on alert on October 1st 1986 that critical operational event came less than 5 years after the program began I have directed the Secretary of Defense to revitalize our bomber forces by constructing and deploying some 100 B1 bombers as soon as possible virtually the moment the contracts were signed the b1b team hit the ground running dusting off stored tooling getting engineering and Manufacturing drawings out into the shops and beginning the Manpower buildup which would lead to an industrywide Workforce of more than 60,000 employees the pace has been Quick ever since here are some highlights of major events Palmdale groundbreaking March 1982 Palmdale occupancy July 1983 aircraft one out of final assembly May 1984 rollout September 1984 first plight October 1984 President Reagan's visit to Palmdale October 1984 Das Air Force based delivery June 1985 climatic testing July 1986 first b1b short range attack missile drop January 1987 and Ellsworth delivery January 1987 Rock 's commitment exemplified by its $600 million capital investment and that of the industrial team is paying off in an excellent new weapon system which is coming into the inventory on time and within budget here's what some of the men who have flown the b1b have to say about it the b1b has tremendous acceleration it has great maneuverability and unusually quick control response it is truly a pilot's airplane see uh it's the smoothest flying airplane I've ever flown in and it was just a a pleasure to fly it it's just a great airplane very proud of it to have the have it here and for the country to have it 1,00 ft about5 M plug into the AV and pull the nose up to about 20 25° angle Tack and climb right out smartly to 20,000 ft and less than 45 seconds initially we're doing about 25,000 ft a minute we can fly fast and it can fly very low and it can deliver its weapons with great accuracy as each b1b moves into Sachs inventory our nation's strategic posture is improved when the full complement of 100 aircraft is fielded in 1988 America will indeed be prepared for peace [Music] [Applause] I