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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUpgrades aim to extend B-52 bombers' already long lives
Despite the bomber's more than half-century of service, the Air Force believes that modifications and overhauls have made the B-52 ageless. Now engineers and technicians are working on a contract worth up to $11.9 billion for an array of upgrades to bring the B-52 Stratofortress fleet into the 21st century.
The plane's computers are only as powerful as the original PCs in the early 1980s. Bombing mission information has to be uploaded before a flight. It can't be changed in the air even if the target on the ground changes.
Now Boeing is expanding on the bombers' limited capabilities by providing an upgraded communications system so aircrews can send and receive information via satellite links. This enables the B-52's five-person crews to change mission plans, re-target weapons in flight and interact better with ground forces and other aircraft.
Nobody can say for sure how many of the government's 76 B-52s down from 744 in the plane's heyday will survive three more decades. The most recent variant of the plane, built between 1960 and 1962, has undergone more than 30 major modifications.
More at http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ageless-b52-bomber-20130819,0,6642110.story .
Brother Buzz
(36,458 posts)NoPasaran
(17,291 posts)Hollywood's greatest B-52 pilot.
Brother Buzz
(36,458 posts)But then again, Karl wasn't a pilot, he just kept them flying.
Boom Sound 416
(4,185 posts)Recursion
(56,582 posts)Why on earth would they do that?
Boom Sound 416
(4,185 posts)I can imagine a drone b-52 re-armed with god knows how many single strike laser guided bombs on station for a limitless amount of time. Air refueled and no need for human support with no stress of human loss subject to equipment failure or attack.
That thing could sit on station above a zone for a month.
Launched from the USA it would greatly reduce our footprint on the holy land (that's for sure) while ensuring plenty of war for the mongers.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)The whole point of drones is to be less expensive by an order of magnitude than the manned fleet.
Boom Sound 416
(4,185 posts)But not having five souls aboard is the greatest expense cut is in the eyes of a politician.
As to actual money, could be or not. I know they fly the b-2's from Missouri only but b-52's are stationed around the world I believe. Droning them may consolidate support. Also the fact that they would stay on station is cheaper than indivual missions I would think. Just taking off alone requires a refuel.
KG
(28,752 posts)neverforget
(9,436 posts)a trillion at first, but with cost overruns, it'll be closer to $3 trillion. I'm talking the program, not per plane, but with the MIC, you never know.