U.S. Air Force Has Started Modernizing The Radars On Its B-52 Fleet

A USAF’s B-52H aircraft prepared for launch before flying to Moron Air Base to participate in BTF 23-2 at Minot AFB. Credit: © US Air Force, photo by Staff Sgt. Michael A. Richmond/AIRCOM – Allied Air Command. 

Airforce Technology: US Air Force initiates radar modernisation for B-52 fleet 

Replacing outdated radar technology will enhance the B-52's navigation, targeting, and situational awareness capabilities, ensuring its effectiveness in higher-threat environments. 

The US Air Force’s B-52 radar modernisation program takes a step forward as a B-52 from the 307th Bomb Wing arrives at a Boeing facility in San Antonio to receive the Active Electronically Scanned Array system (AESA). 

The US Air Force commenced its program by welcoming a B-52 bomber from the 307th Bomb Wing to a Boeing Co. facility in San Antonio on May 25. This deployment aims to equip the aircraft with the AESA.

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U.S. Air Force Has Started Modernizing The Radars On Its B-52 Fleet  

US Air Force, Boeing Commence Radar Upgrade for B-52 Stratofortress Fleet -- The Defense Post  

The Air Force Is Getting ‘New’ B-52 Bombers -- 19Fortyfive  

Air Force, Partners Commence B-52 Bomber Radar Modernization -- Executive Gov  

USAF’s ‘Big Ugly Fat Fellow’ – B-52 Stratofortress – To Get New AESA Radar Amid Continued Hostilities By Russia & China -- EurAsian Times

B-52 To Get A New Engine

A B-52H strategic bomber equipped with the AGM-86 variant Air-Launched Cruise Missile. Image: US Air Force.

Rolls-Royce has begun testing F130 engines for the United States Air Force B-52 fleet at the NASA Stennis Space Center https://t.co/qIZpx8gTNE pic.twitter.com/oKaJAGrQnL

— Rolls-Royce Press (@RollsRoycePress) March 1, 2023

Warzone/The Drive: Rolls-Royce Offers Peek At The B-52’s New Engines Undergoing Testing  

The B-52 re-engining saga goes back many decades, but it’s finally happening in the form of Rolls-Royce’s TF130 turbofan. 

  Now that testing has begun, Rolls-Royce has provided first looks at the F130 turbofan engines in their dual-pod configuration that will replace the outdated TF33 engines currently equipping the U.S. Air Force’s B-52H Stratofortress fleet. Rolls-Royce has offered this imagery as part of an update on the years-long effort to re-engine and modernize the service’s bombers. 

In fact, the fight to get the B-52 new engines is a saga that dates back decades. A Rolls-Royce press release explains that testing of the F130 engines under the Air Force’s B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP) is being carried out at the company’s outdoor test facility at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. The current round of testing will focus primarily on both crosswind aerodynamic flow and confirming that the engine’s digital controls system can operate as intended.  

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 B-52 To Get A New Engine  

Rolls-Royce Testing New Engine for US Air Force B-52 Bomber Fleet -- Defense Post  

‘Milestone Testing’: US Air Force Is Propelling Its B-52 Bombers Towards 100 Years Of Service; Rolls-Royce Offers A ‘Sneak Peak’ -- EurAsian Times  

Rolls-Royce kicks off testing of replacement B-52 engine -- Flight Global  

Rolls-Royce B-52 engine testing gets under way for USAF -- Business Live  

F130 engines: Rolls-Royce begins testing new engines to revamp old B-52 fleet -- Interesting Engineering

The B-52 Was Designed In A Hotel Room Over One Weekend

B-52Bs on the flightline in 1957 (U.S. Air Force photo) 

SandBoxx: The B-52 was designed in a hotel room over one weekend (and will probably fly for 100 years) 

America’s legendary B-52 Stratofortress first took to the skies more than 70 years ago and will likely remain in service beyond its century mark. In fact, the B-52 is now slated to continue flying long after much newer bombers, the B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit respectively, have already been sent out to pasture. 

But what may be most incredible about this long-lasting and broadly capable platform is that the aircraft itself, often referred to as the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat Fellow), was actually designed over the span of a single weekend by a small group of Boeing engineers stuffed into one hotel room in Dayton, Ohio.  

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WNU Editor: The first B-52 flight was on 15 April 1952. More on the B-52 from Wikipedia (leak here).

B-52 Bomber Circles Over RAF Fairford After Emergency 'Squawk' Alert

 

Daily Mail: US Air Force bomber is roaming skies over Gloucestershire: B-52 took off from RAF Fairford before circling in constant loop after issuing emergency 'squawk' code 

* A nuclear-capable B-52 bomber is roaming the skies over Britain 

* The US Air Force jet took off from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire 

* It started to circle in a constant loop after issuing an emergency Squawk 

* The bombers were deployed to the UK after Putin's Ukraine invasion 

A nuclear-capable B-52 bomber is roaming the skies over Britain after emitting an emergency squawk. 

The US Air Force jet, coded SPICY22, took off from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire earlier today before it began to circle in a constant loop after issuing an emergency Squawk 7700 code - thought to be because one of the bomber's engines has failed. 

The jet is currently covering a path which takes in the northern end of Gloucester, Churchdown, Bishop's Cleeve, Newent, Tewkesbury and Cheltenham. It is understood that it is in a loop so that it can burn off fuel before it can land again, according to local reports.  

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Update #1: Huge B-52 Stratofortress bomber circles over RAF Fairford after emergency alert (Swindon Advertiser)  

Update #2: B-52 bomber from RAF Fairford in emergency 'Squawk' alert - updates (Gloucestershire News) 

WNU Editor: It looks like one of the engines failed.

Two U.S. B-52 Bombers Flew A Mission Over The Middle East On Saturday In A Show Of Force

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing, conducts a Bomber Task Force mission with coalition and regional partners across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Sept. 4, 2022. Two B-52H Stratofortress aircraft guided theater integration training with a variety of coalition and partner ally aircraft to demonstrate readiness and strengthen regional security. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Charles Fultz) 

Daily Mail/AP: US flies two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over the Middle East in show of force as tensions with Iran reach fever pitch following latest talks collapse 

 * The two bombers took off from Royal Air Force base at Fairford, UK, and flew over eastern Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea on Sunday 

 * They took part in training missions with Kuwaiti and Saudi warplanes 

 * Top US air force officer in Middle East said mission showcases military's strength 

The United States military flew a pair of nuclear-capable B-52 long-distance bombers over the Middle East in a show of force as tensions in the region remain high between Washington and Tehran. 

The bombers took off from the Royal Air Force base at Fairford in England and flew over the eastern Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea on Sunday in training missions together with Kuwaiti and Saudi warplanes, before departing the region. 

Lt Gen Alexus Grynkewich, the top US air force officer in the Middle East, said in a statement: 'Threats to the US and our partners will not go unanswered.  

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Two U.S. B-52 Bombers Flew A Saturday Mission Over The Middle East In A Show Of Force  

US, partners conduct Middle East BTF through air, land and sea -- US Air Forces Central  

US military flies two nuclear-capable B-52H Stratofortresses over the Middle East -- FOX News 

IAF accompanies US B-52 bombers over region -- Jerusalem Post 

In signal to Iran, Israeli jets again escort US bombers through region -- The Times of Israel  

US B-52 bombers fly over Gulf amid tensions with Iran -- Middle East Monitor  

U.S. flies B-52 bombers over Middle East in show of force -- Axios

Two American B-52 Bombers Make A Low Sweep Over Stockholm

🇺🇸🇸🇪US strategic bombers and fighter jets sighted over Stockholm, the capital of Sweden now pic.twitter.com/9zGOqwDZ1j

— AZ 🛰🌏🌍🌎 (@AZmilitary1) September 2, 2022

Defence Post: American B-52 Bombers Make Low Sweep Over Stockholm 

American B-52 bombers flew low over Stockholm’s parliament and palace on Friday as Sweden ramps up exercises with the United States in view of the Scandinavian country’s NATO membership.

The two US Air Force planes were escorted by JAS Gripen fighters as they overflew the capital around 12:15 pm (1015 GMT), Sweden’s military said. 

While the US bombers have taken part in exercises in Sweden before, it was the first time they have flown over the capital, a military spokeswoman, Therese Fagerstedt, told AFP.  

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WNU Editor: This is what I call sending a message to the Swedes.

US Deploys Nuke-Capable B-52 Bombers To UK For Four Days Of Exercises

1st Lt. Tanner Devotie stands in front of a B-52 bomber at Fairchild Air Force Base, on August 17, 2022. Four B-52 bombers landed at Fairchild on August 16, 2022 to participate in Barksdale Air Force Base’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) exercise. ACE exercises enhance U.S Air Force airpower survivability and reliance. (Sidiq Moltafet/The Spokesman-Review) 

Defence-Blog: US Air Force B-52 bombers return to Fairchild 

The U.S. Air Force has announced that its B-52 Stratofortress returned to Fairchild Air Force Base after 10+ years. 

According to a press release from the 92d Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs, four B-52H Stratofortresses from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, will land at Fairchild AFB, August 16-19 to participate in an Agile Combat Employment (ACE) exercise. 

This will be the first time a B-52H has conducted operations at Fairchild since its runways were refurbished 12 years ago.  

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Update #1: ‘It keeps you sharp because it’s older’: B-52s arrive at Fairchild for four-day exercise (The Spokesman-Review)  

Update #2: US deploys nuke-capable B-52 bombers to UK (American Military News)  

WNU Editor: The exercises have since ended and these 4 B-52s have returned to the U.S..

Ticket Price Shock On What It Would Cost To Upgrade The B-52 Bomber's Engines

Air Force by Airman 1st Class Duncan C. Bevan  

Air Force Magazine: Cost of B-52 Re-Engining Jumps By Half in New Estimate of Refit 

The cost of the B-52 re-engining program has increased 50 percent because of integration issues, according to revelations in a House Armed Services panel hearing. 

Air Force acquisition executive Andrew P. Hunter acknowledged the B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP) price hike as voiced in a question from Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) in testimony on service modernization. 

“We currently believe there is cost growth from our design work that we did originally through the middle-tier acquisition program to what we anticipate we’ll be looking at [in] Milestone B,” which evaluates readiness for entry into the engineering and manufacturing development phase, Hunter said.  

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Update: The B-52 Needs New Engines (And The Bill Is Insane) (19FortyFive)  

WNU Editor: There are 76 Air Force B-52 Stratofortress long-range bombers in the US fleet that will get their engines replaced .... Boeing Gears Up to Replace B-52 Engines (National Defense).

Nuclear Capable B-52s Deployed To Europe

 

Daily Mail: The Big Ugly Fellas arrive in UK: US B-52 long-range bombers land in Britain to join Nato mission after practising airstrikes with British forward controllers as Putin's forces continue to menace Ukraine 

* The B-52 Stratofortress aircraft - together with support equipment - arrived at RAF Fairford, Gloucs, today 

* US said they were there for a 'long-planned' Bomber Task Force mission with its partners in Europe 

* It coincides with Russia continuing to mass near Ukraine and an intensification of a war of words 

* Boris Johnson 'stakes are very high' as he urged Russia to back away from a 'disastrous' Ukraine invasion 

Bombers from the US's flying forces jetted into RAF Fairford this morning in a thinly-veiled show of strength as Russia continued to mass near Ukraine. 

The four B-52 Stratofortress aircraft - with call signs HATE 11, HATE 12, HATE 13 AND HATE 14 - arrived at the Gloucestershire grounds this morning. 

They were accompanied by officers and personnel from America's 5th Bomb Wing from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota.  

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Nuclear Capable B-52s Deployed To Europe  

RAF fighters welcome US B-52 bombers back to Europe as Russia tensions build -- Forces.net  

US Air Force B-52s arrive at RAF Fairford for BTF Europe 22-2 -- Air Force  

B-52 Bombers Return To Europe At A Very Tense Time -- Wwarzone/The Drive 

B-52 Bomber Task Force Deploys to RAF Fairford -- Air Force Magazine  

WATCH US nuclear-capable bombers arrive in UK -- RT

B-52 Bomber On The Move From Arizona To Oklahoma City

 

FOX 10 Phoenix: Did you see it? B-52 bomber on the move from Arizona to Oklahoma City 

MESA, Ariz. - A piece of American history is on the move, and it has been spotted across parts of the Mesa and Gilbert area. 

A B-52 bomber plane is being moved from a boneyard in Pima County to a new home in Oklahoma City. 

The plane was built in 1961 and taken out of commission in 2008. A spokesperson with Boneyard Safari said the B-52 was used during the Cold War as part of the Nuclear Deterrent Force.

It took about four months to disassemble to plane and get it ready for the move.  

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WNU Editor: That is something that you do not see everyday.

A Detailed Video Tour Of A B-52 Stratofortress Ever Made (Video)

 

Warzone/The Drive: This Is The Most Incredible Tour Of A B-52 Stratofortress We Have Ever Seen 

A highly experienced B-52 crew gives a very detailed tour of the inside and outside of the iconic Cold War-era jet. It may be an overused axiom, but the B-52 is truly like a fine wine, it just keeps getting better with age. With the Stratofortress—the youngest of which will hit 60 years old next year—finally getting new engines, the type will have more range and better field performance, payload, maintainability, and economy. This, combined with significant sensor, avionics, survivability, weapons, and networking upgrades, as well as its new internal smart bomb racks, will see the 'BUFF' through to the second half of this century and probably beyond. Yes, 100-year-old B-52s flying in active service isn't just possible, it is becoming more probable with each passing day. 

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WNU Editor: Wow! This is impressive.

B-52 Brandishes Its Modern Arsenal In New Photo Gallery

A pair of B-52Hs, together with a variety of their available nuclear and precision-guided ordnance, at Barksdale Air Force Base. U.S. Air Force

The B-52 Stratofortress has the widest array of weapons capabilities in the U.S. inventory. This includes gravity bombs, cluster bombs, precision guided missiles and joint direct attack munitions.

The @usairforce currently expects to operate B-52s through 2050. pic.twitter.com/kxWwpTHR9e

— Airman Magazine (@AirmanMagazine) July 30, 2021

Warzone/The Drive: Barksdale B-52 Brandishes Its Modern Arsenal In New Loadout Photos  

Stratofortress weapons options have changed a lot over the years and are set to morph even more drastically in the decades to come. 

The U.S. Air Force’s B-52H Stratofortress bomber has recently posed for photos behind an impressive display of its still-expanding weapons and stores options. Although it first took to the air almost 70 years ago, the adaptable “BUFF” still keeps pace with developments in precision-guided ordnance and it also carries some important weapons that are unique to it in the Air Force inventory. 

The photos, two of which were released through the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) earlier today, show, in an unmistakable head-on pose, a B-52H of the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. In the background of one of the shots is another B-52, this one from Barksdale’s 307th Bomb Wing, part of Air Force Reserve Command.  

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WNU Editor: It looks like the B-52 will be flying for a few more decades with its new engine .... B-52 Engine Replacement Could Keep the Bomber Flying Past its 100th Birthday (Flying). More here .... The B-52 Stratofortress may stay in the Air Force for 100 years (We Are The Mighty).

U.S. Air Force Plans To Add Privacy Curtains To B-52 Bombers For Female Crew Members Who Need To Use The Restroom

As of June 2019, 58 of the Bombers are still in active use, while 18 are in reserve. The fleet went under major upgrades between 2013 and 2015, with the installation of new electronics, communications technology, computing, and avionics. However, no sitting toilets or privacy curtains were added 

Daily Mail: Air Force plans to add privacy curtains to B-52 Bombers for female crew members who need to use the restroom as more women join the ranks - but there is only a urinal onboard 

 * Due to space issues, Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Bombers are not fitted out with a sitting toilet 

 * The Bombers were produced in the 1950s and 60s, when there were only male crew members; as such there is one small urinal installed on each aircraft 

 * There are currently 58 Bombers still in active use and they were given major upgrades between 2013 and 2015 

 * During the upgrades, no curtains were installed, meaning crew continue to urinate and defecate without proper privacy 

 * The Air Force says with more women joining the service there is 'a higher need for privacy during rest room activities' and will soon install curtains 

 * However, with no sitting toilet on board, women will likely have to urinate into bags and bottles, while men can continue to use the urinal 

The Air Force plans to add privacy curtains to its fleet of B-52 Bombers as more women join the military. 

Earlier this month, the Air Force put out a statement soliciting information from textile companies about installing curtains around toilet facilities inside the aircraft. 

'As the B-52 continues to fly long duration missions, especially with mixed crews, there is a higher need for privacy during rest room activities,' officials wrote in the release. 

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Update: Privacy, Please: Air Force Wants to Add Toilet Curtain on B-52 Bomber (Military.com) 

WNU Editor: Currently, there is no sitting toilet in a B-52, crewmembers must defecate into bags and dispose of the waste when they land. But with women now currently making up about 21% of the Air Force, I can see this toilet issue being addressed.

Cold War B-52 Named 'Wise Guy' Flies Again After Being Rescued From Aircraft 'Boneyard'

 

Daily Mail: Cold War B-52 named 'Wise Guy' flies again after being rescued from aircraft 'Boneyard' where it sat for 10 years to be stripped for parts - but was called back into service to replace crashed bomber 

 * B-52H ‘Wise Guy’ was filmed taking flight at Tinker Air Force Base last week 

 * It's being prepared to return to action with the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, after a 12-year hiatus from active service 

 * Wise Guy is only the second B-52H bomber ever to be regenerated from the famed aircraft cemetery ‘Boneyard’ at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, in Arizona 

 * The bomber was retired in 2008 after logging more than 17,000 flight hours 

 * The aircraft was intended to remain in the cemetery to be cannibalized for parts 

 * However, it was selected for restoration after the 2016 crash of a B-52 in Guam 

A B-52H nicknamed ‘Wise Guy’ has become only the second Boeing Stratofortress bomber to ever be restored out of the Boneyard and returned to the fleet after it was videoed taking to the skies once again last week. 

The B-52, tail number 60-034, was filmed by Redbone Aviation taking flight at Oklahoma's Tinker Air Force Base where it had arrived back in April to undergo programmed depot maintenance (PDM) – the final part of a three-phase process to regenerate an aircraft to return it to active service. 

The Wise Guy is being prepared to return to action with the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, after a 12-year hiatus from active service. 

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Update: A B-52H Nicknamed "Wise Guy" Becomes The Second To Ever Come Back From The Bone Yard (Warzone/The Drive) 

WNU Editor: This was one of the last B-52s to be built in the early 1960s.

U.S. Sends Two B-52s To Fly Over The Persian Gulf To Deter Iran

The two B-52H bombers (one shown above), assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing, departed from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana on Wednesday, flying non-stop for 36-hours to the Middle East 

NBC: U.S. flew two bombers from Louisiana over the Persian Gulf to deter Iran, says military 

The bomber mission, which did not drop bombs, comes as the U.S. assesses there is a heightened chance of Iranian miscalculations, said a U.S. official. 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military flew two B-52H bombers from Louisiana to the Middle East Thursday, part of an ongoing effort to deter Iran from any aggressive actions, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). 

The bomber mission, which flew through the region but did not drop any bombs, comes as the U.S. military believes there is a heightened chance for Iranian actions or miscalculations, according to a senior U.S. military official with knowledge of the region. 

The two B-52H "Stratofortresses" flew from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana on a roughly 36-hour mission that took them across Europe, through the northern Red Sea, across Saudi Arabia and into the Persian Gulf for a north to south transit. 

The mission included a counterclockwise loop around Qatar, all the time staying closer to the western side of the Arabian Gulf and outside Iranian airspace, according to the senior U.S. military official with knowledge of the region. 

Aircraft from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar flew with the U.S. planes during portions of the flight.

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WNU Editor: My guess is that U.S. intelligence is seeing signs that Iran is about to sponsor an attack .... U.S. military on alert for potential Iranian attack in Middle East (Politico). 

 More News On The U.S. Sending Two B-52s To Fly Over The Persian Gulf To Deter Iran 

US B-52H bombers fly to Middle East in mission to deter Iran -- AP 

To Deter Iranian Attacks on U.S. Troops, Pentagon Orders B-52 Flights to Middle East -- New York Times 

U.S. military dispatches B-52 bombers to Middle East as show of force against Iran -- Washington Post US flies two B-52s over Persian Gulf amid tensions with Iran -- The Hill 

Two American B-52H bombers fly 36-hours from Louisiana to the Persian Gulf in show-of-force mission to deter Iran from attacking US troops in the Middle East -- Daily Mail 

The US just sent a warning to Iran in the form of two B-52H Stratofortress bombers -- Business Insider

Watch This B-52 Bomber Slide During Take-Off

 

Popular Mechanics: Watch a B-52 Bomber Impressively Slide to the Right in a Crosswind Takeoff

This shouldn't make sense. 

 * A new video shows a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber taking off in strong crosswinds. 

 * The B-52’s landing gear allows it to roll down the runway with the landing gear pointed in a different direction than the fuselage. 

 * The old nuclear bomber needed to be able to take off in a hurry during the Cold War, regardless of weather conditions. 

A new video from the U.K. shows off a unique capability baked into the B-52 bomber: the ability to fly with the landing gear facing a different direction than that of the aircraft. 

The bomber appears to be out of control and on the verge of being blown off the runway, but in reality, it's merely compensating for a strong crosswind. 

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WNU Editor: Those must be strong crosswinds to make that happen.

Eight B-52 Bombers Line Up On Runway Before Taking off

 

The SUN: GOING NUCLEAR America’s fleet of eight B-52 nuke bombers line up on runway before taking off for massive show of strength 

AMERICA's fleet of eight B-52 nuke bombers lined up on a runway last week before taking off for massive show of strength. 

The readiness exercise with B-52H Stratofortress bombers took place on Wednesday, October 14, at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. 

Photographs of the event - which were released by the US Air Force through the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service - showed the bombers preparing for takeoff, according to The Aviationist. 

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WNU Editor: You do not see that everyday.

6 American B-52 Stratofortress Bombers Trained Together With Norwegian Fighters (Video)

6 American B-52 Stratofortress bombers trained together with Norwegian fighters. pic.twitter.com/jSWjVTngz7

— Luftforsvaret (@Luftforsvaret) August 24, 2020

Warzone/The Drive: Six B-52 Strategic Bombers Fly Alongside Norwegian Fighters In A Clear Signal To Russia

The latest deployment of the nuclear-capable bombers to Europe comes amid ongoing nuclear arms control negotiations with Moscow.

While increased U.S. Air Force heavy bomber operations in the Pacific region have drawn significant attention in recent months, the service has also been stepping up similar activities in Europe. An impressive group of six B-52H Stratofortress bombers, which are now on a short-term deployment in the United Kingdom, recently flew together with Norwegian F-35A Joint Strike Fighters and F-16AM Viper fighter jets. The arrival of the bombers, all of which appear to be nuclear-capable, looks to have been meant, at least in part, to be a signal aimed at Russia.

The Royal Norwegian Air Force, or Luftforsvaret, released pictures and video of the armada of aircraft in flight on Aug. 24, 2020, but did not say when or where the event had actually taken place. None of the imagery showed the F-35s that reportedly took part in the training missions, either. A similarly large exercise involving five B-52Hs and Norwegian F-16AMs last year took place over the Norwegian Sea.

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WNU Editor: It has been a long time since I last saw 6 B-52s flying together.

Flying The B-52 Through To 2050 Entails Some Risks

With eight engines located forward of the wings, the B-52 bomber presents an unusual reengining challenge. U.S. Air Force

Forbes: Hanging New Engines On 60-Year-Old B-52 Bombers Will Raise Some Serious Risks

The U.S. Air Force wants to continue operating the venerable B-52 bomber through 2050. As I have written recently, that would make it the longest continuously operating jet in history.

In order to accomplish this, Air Force leaders plan to make major upgrades to the 76 B-52H bombers in their fleet, including the installation of new engines.

Today’s commercial turbofans are so much more advanced than the TF33 engines currently powering the bombers—there are eight on each plane—that the Air Force believes it can get a 30% gain in fuel efficiency and (given less weight) a 40% gain in range.

A request for proposals issued to industry in May also specified big gains in engine reliability, so that the new engines would never need to be removed from wings during the bombers’ remaining time in service.

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WNU Editor: It is amazing that these bombers are still flying.

Will The B-52s Be Flying Until 2097?

Photo: Master Sgt. Lance Cheung (U.S. Air Force)

Jalopnik: General Electric Wants To Keep America's B-52s In The Air Until 2097 (At Least)

The B-52 Stratofortress ain’t new. The first one flew nearly seventy years ago in 1952. The last ones were built ten years later. But just because it’s already been around for decades doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a lot more fight left in it. At least General Electric seems to think so.

General Electric is trying to convince the Air Force and congressional bean counters that its re-engining program could extend the lifespan of the B-52 platform more than seventy years into the future. The Air Force has already planned to keep the planes in the air through the 2040s even as the new B-21 Raider stealth bomber comes into service as well, but General Electric thinks the B-52 has a little more life left in it to give. Nearly sixty more years worth, to be exact.

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WNU Editor: I will be surprised if they will be flying 20 years from now let alone 77 years.