USAF B-52H bombers deploy to UK to deter Putin - Stunning Pictures - YouTube - RAF Fairford,England

Boeing B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers of the 20th Bomb Squadron,2nd Bomb Wing out of Barksdale Air Force Base,Louisiana were deployed to RAF Fairford,England by Air Force Global Strike Command for Bomber Task Force 25-1.Bomber Task Force missions are not anounced in advance to give potential adversaries pause.They emphasise the U.S. Air Force's ability to project combat power anytime,anywhere across the globe.They also provide valuable experience integrating with Allies and Partners,enhancing deterrence and defence.Once on station,some actitivities are undisclosed.*General Dynamics produced the F-16AM Fighting Falcon until 1993,when Lockheed Martin took over.*Boeing (BA),General Dynamics (GD).German Luftwaffe Eurofighter Typhoons and Royal Danish Air Force F-16AM Fighting Falcons escorted the B-52 H's to their destination for a high explosives drop in the Cudgel Range in Lithuania.

US Air Force and NATO Upgrade Nuclear Readiness

Raytheon Intelligence and Space (RIS),a division of Raytheon Technologies,has installed the first Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal (ASNT) system for the US Air Force at Barksdale Air Force Base,Louisiana.Barksdale is home of 2nd Bomb Wing (2BW) and its approximately 44 B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers,as well as Air Force Global Strike Command.The project modernises existing protected communications systems,while adding new capabilities for both nuclear and non-nuclear Command and Control,the company explained in a news release on 11 April 2022: Global ASNT ensures robust communications to provide protected communications to nuclear bomber,missile and support aircraft crews in austere environments.* The Global ASNT system uses satellite communications to provide Command and Control,linking nuclear forces to national command authorities,operating on both MILSTAR and Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellites.They provide critical data at the tactical edge for smart decision-making in near real-time.The nearly 600 million dollar contract supports the Air Force Global Strike Command (GSC).* RIS will complete three additional base installs to bring GSC up to Initital Operating Capability (IOC).A total of 90 terminals will be fielded in both fixed and transportable configurations by the end of 2023,according to RIS.RIS delivers disruptive technologies for success in any domain,against any challenge.It develops advanced sensors,cyber services and software solutions for a decisive advantage to its military customers,according to RIS.* A communications dish on the command post roof maintains the connection between the Global ASNT and nuclear Command,Control and Communications (C3).The system delIvers assured communications between national command authorities and strategic deterrence forces in a range of environments and circumstances,better connecting warfighters through improved information sharing.Using multiple satellite constellations provides resilience and redundancy in challenging circumstances,such as jamming or while coming under attack.* Along the same lines,NATO,as authorised by the NATO Nuclear Committee,has been upgrading its nuclear deterrence assets from Cold War standards since at least 2015,in the wake of Russia's first invasion of Ukraine.These assets are located on air bases in Belgium,Germany,Italy,the Netherlands,Turkey and,more recently,the UK.For exampe,new nuclear security perimeters for the Protective Aircraft Shelters (PAS) and the underground vaults that contain tactical nuclear weapons (US B61 bombs) that are sited beneath each PAS have been installed at Aviano Air Base,Italy and Incerlik Air Base,Turkey.The upgraded nuclear security perimeters include double fencing;lighting;cameras;intrusion detection;and a vehicle patrol road between the two fences,in accordance with US standards.As well,the B61 bombs are to be serviced in the PAS by the new Secure Transportable Maintenance System (STMS) trailers,and communications are being,or have been,modernised.* The US has recently begun the forward deployment of 24 USAF nuclear-capable Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters to RAF Lakenheath,England.There the extensive underground vaults are to be upgraded after having been removed from service in 2008 during an era of rising hopes for arms control.Now,however,Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the improved accuracy of its cruise missile guidance systems have made NATO rethink its requirements.So the Lakenheath bunkers are once again considered desirable,adding flexibility for tactical nuclear weapons storage in light of the heightened Russian capabilty and aggression near NATO'S Eastern Flank.In the event of a crisis,some of the weapons could be shifted around from the other nuclear air bases to RAF Lakenheath as needed,and the aircraft to deliver them would be readily available at RAF Lakenheath.Although Russian resort to nuclear weapons cannot be dismissed,the Intelligence Community does not assess that there is an acute threat of Russian use of tactical nuclear weapons at this time.* The new B61-12 tactical nucear weapons are considered superior because of lower yield;greater accuracy;and reliability for such missions as nuclear attack;earth-penetrating strikes;above surface detonation;and bunker-buster explosions.* Lockheed Martin (LMT),Raytheon Technologies (RTX)

No Signs of Slowing Down:The Steadfast B-52H

In an unprecedented move,a US Air Force Boeing B-52H Stratofortress bomber called "Ghost Rider" has been taken out of retirement at the famous Boneyard storage facility at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base,Arizona.Thousands of planes are kept in storage at the bone-dry desert tract and occasionally used for spare parts.Till now,though,none had ever been returned to flight.
Ghost Rider was found to have dry rot in its fuel lines and on its tyres,but after a bit of refurbishment,it passed a runway test of its steering and landing gear,and its eight Pratt&Whitney engines fired right up.The flight control systems worked perfectly as well,so on 13 February the sturdy bomber was flown to Barksadale AFB,Louisiana,one of two bases that host the B-52Hs;the other is Minot AFB in North Dakota.Ghost Rider will take the place of a B-52 damaged in a cockpit fire.
The B-52s played a major role in the Vietnam War from 1964-73.Thirty-one of them were shot down,with the loss of 25 crewmembers.After Vietnam,they went on to serve over Iraq,Yugoslavia and Afghanistan in Operations Desert Storm in 1991 and Desert Strike in 1996;Operation Allied Force in 1999;Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001;and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.The Stratofortress has been constantly upgraded and will be in service until 2045,according to the current plan.It has proven to be a superior economical and adaptable high subsonic speed bomber with substantial loiter capability.
In 2013,the fleet-wide technology upgrade called Combat Network Communications Technology,or CONECT,was begun to modernise technology,computing and flight deck avionics,and involved installing new modems,servers,radios,receivers,data links and digital workstations.From 2016-17,the Internal Weapons Bay Upgrade will be carried out,resulting in a 66% increase in weapons carriage capacity through installation of a digital interface and rotary launcher.JDAMS,aong with JASSM and MACD missiles will be carried internally in the weapons bay,giving the streamlined plane a 15% improvement in fuel mileage besides the increased firepower.
An airman enlisting today could well spend his or her entire career on the B-52H.*
Boeing(BA),United Technologies(UTX)

B-52H:The Plane That Challenged China

The US Air Force sent two B-52H Stratofortress bombers through China's newly declared Air Defence Identification Zone over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea on Monday.China,Japan and Taiwan lay claim to the islands.The previously scheduled training mission went off without incident,despite the American refusal to heed Chinese requirements to file a flight plan;radio frequencies;and transponder information-or face emergency military measures.There was no communication with China during the flight.
The B-52s are part of the 20th Bomber Squadron and flew out of Andersen Air Force Base,Guam.They were deployed there in August from Barksdale AFB,Louisiana in accordance with the new US defence strategy of rebalancing forces to the Pacific.The Air Force has 76 of the venerable bombers,which were built in 1962.They can fly at a speed of up to 650 mph(Mach 0.84) at an altitude of up to 50,000 ft/15,151.5 m.They have a crew of 5,and can fly 8800 miles/7652 nautical miles unrefueled.
Armed with precision-guided bombs and air-launched cruise missiles,it flies both high altitude strategic bombing,interdiction and close air support missions.It can assist the US Navy,as it is highly effective at ocean surveillance,as well as minelaying and anti-ship operations.In 2 hours,2 B-52s can monitor 140,000 sq mi/364,000 sq km of ocean.The planes can serve till 2040,the latest engineering studies show.
The bombers,which are under Global Strike Command,have been receiving a B-52 Software Block(BSB) upgrade this autumn.This will allow them to fully utilise new equipment and advanced weapons as they are introduced.As well,existing systems can be improved and enhanced by the upgrade.Such items as the Offensive Avionics System;GPS;GPS Interface Unit;and Advanced Targeting Pod computer can be enhanced by the upgrade.
New lines of code are created to access new weapon or equipment capabilities such as the new ability to attack fast moving ground targets with smart weapons,Global Strike Command program analyst Nathan Dawn said.The upgrade can also correct software errors and patch deficiencies not found during development and testing.When errors are found in new and complex software,they are documented and prioritised for repair in the next upgrade cycle.
Boeing was the original manufacturer of the B-52H.
Boeing(BA)