Stratofortress I.

This is coolbert:

In one of his many books, The Soviet defector
Suvorov expresses his desire to open a museum. In this museum would be displayed weapons that Suvorov is fond of. Such as the AK-47, the U.S. Jeep, etc. Weapons that have had a venerable life
and a profound effect on modern warfare. Suvorov, has, however, omitted one weapon that has and STILL plays an important role in modern warfare and will for some time into the future.

Bomber, B-52. The Stratofortress.

An aircraft first designed in the latter part of the 1940's.

Designed to be a strategic intercontinental bomber capable of
delivering nuclear munitions anywhere in the world. And WAS able to
do so. The USAF Strategic Air Command [SAC] on one occasion, to
demonstrate the capability of the B-52, send a mission aloft to
circumnavigate the world non-stop, refueling mid-air. This very
aptly demonstrated to the Soviets and indeed all other nations of
the world that SAC did have a world-wide, at will capability.

Since the time that the B-52 was first designed and built, a
number of USAF manned bomber aircraft have come and gone. The B-
47, B-58, B-66, even the B-1 [now operated only by Air National
Guard units, not on active status full time] all were fielded and
eventually taken from the active inventory. A prototype of the
successor to the B-52 was built [the B-72], this aircraft never
going into production, the last remaining prototype becoming a
museum piece.

Still, all during that time, even up until now, the ancient but
esteemed B-52 continues to fly and IS a valuable part
of the U.S. Triad nuclear arsenal [manned bombers, nuclear missile
firing submarines, land-based missiles]. And will continue to be
a valuable and trusted asset for some time into the future.
It has been estimated that the airframes of the current fleet
of B-52's can last until at least 2040!!!!
It has long been remarked that the crews that fly the B-52
are a lot younger than the aircraft themselves.
Sometimes by a lot!!




The original versions of the B-52, of course have been modified
many, many times, each modification increasing the survivability
and combat effectiveness of the aircraft. A lot of these
modifications involves the installation of new and much improved
avionics [aviation electronics]. To include navigation, radar,
electronic warfare "suites", imaging and nuclear blast
survivability enhancement. This stuff is not cheap.
But much less expensive that designing and building from
scratch new aircraft.

Just update the old and voila', you get a "bird" with much greater
capability.

Such a list of improvements and modifications would include:

* Global Positioning System (GPS)
* TACAN Replacement System (TRS)
* Integrated Conventional Stores Management System (ICSMS)
* ARC-210/DAMA Secure Voice
* AGM-142 HAVENAP Missile Integration
* High Reliability Maintenance-Free Battery
* Electronic Counter-Measures Improvement (ECMI)
* Off-Aircraft Pylon Tester (OAPT)
* Air Force Mission Support System (AFMSS)
* Electro Viewing System - EVS 3-in-1 (EVS, STV, FLIR)
* Advanced Weapons Integration Program (JDAM, WCMD, JSOW, JASSM)
* Night Vision Imaging System Cockpit Compatible Lighting
* Night Vision Imaging System Compatible Ejection Seat Mod
* Standard Flight Loads Data Recorder (SFLDR)
* Avionics Midlife Improvement (AMI) (ACU, DTUC, and INS Replacement)
* ALR-20 System Replacement
* Fuel Temperature Monitoring System
* Panoramic Night Vision Goggles
* Advanced Infrared Expendables
* Advanced real Time Engine Health Monitoring System
* Closed Loop Sensor-To Shoot Data Collection/Trans
* Precision Targeting Radar
* TF-33 Engine Replacement
* Lethal Self Protection
* B-52 Cockpit Modernization
* KY-58 VINSON Secure Voice
* AVTR
* Additional Cabin Pressure Altimeter
* Enhanced Bomber Mission Management System
* Chaff and Flare Dispenser Upgrade
* Non 1760 Pylon Upgrade


Weapons to be carried by the B-52 have also been much enhanced too
[keep in mind that the B-52 of itself is NOT a killing machine. It
transports the ordnance to the target and delivers the weapon which
does the damage].

The original operational concept for the B-52
was to fly at high altitude, penetrate Soviet airspace, and drop
nuclear bombs on Soviet targets. Dumb but very lethal weapons.

During the life of the B-52 a whole range of weapons have been
added to the inventory of the bird, making this [the B-52] a most
lethal delivery system. Among the innovative weapons the B-52 can
carry are:

Short-Range Attack Missile [SRAM] - - To be fired at enemy anti-
aircraft sites upon penetration of enemy airspace.



Cruise Missiles [ALCM] - - Can carry nuclear or conventional
warheads. A B-52 can carry and launch at independent targets up to
forty of these missiles.



Joint Direct Attack Munition [JDAM] - - conventional
bombs with a strap-on guidance mechanism. GPS coordinates
dialed into the JDAMS prior to dropping allows
the bomb to be dropped and hit a designated target
from great height and with great precision. These weapons,
dropped from forty thousand feet, with guidance from
Special Forces troops [Green Berets] on the ground are what
won the current Afghan war for the U.S.-Northern Alliance forces.



Of course we cannot forget the role the B-52 played in the Vietnam
war.

NOT a role that the bomber was originally intended for.
In Vietnam the B-52 acted as a conventional bomber aircraft,
not delivering nuclear payloads of course, but rather old-fashioned,
iron, "dumb" bombs.



Aircraft modified for the role of dropping conventional bombs on
VC and NVA targets became a very important factor in the war.

Most effective during the siege of Khe Sanh [the code name for the
bombing campaign at Khe Sanh was "Niagara", the enormous number of
bombs [equal to five atomic bombs of Hiroshima size!!!] dropped
evocative of a cascade of falling water!!!]

THIS IS REPUTED TO BE THE NUMBER ONE WEAPON MOST FEARED BY THE
NVA-VC FORCES.

A normal bombing run of the B-52 in Vietnam would consist of three
bombers flying in close formation, dropping their entire payloads
on command of the lead aircraft. A target box on the ground about
one and one half [1 1/2] miles long and three quarters [3/4] miles
wide would be devastated by the detonation of the combined
payloads of the three aircraft. This is what was called carpet
bombing. Anyone ABOVE ground and IN the box
would be killed. Anyone ABOVE ground OUTSIDE
the box but within one mile of the perimeter of the
box would be a casualty, usually by having the
air sucked out of their lungs by the enormous concussion of so
many bombs detonating in so short a time in so small a space
[collapsed lung was the result.]

So great was the North Vietnamese respect for the power of the B-
52, that, having downed a B-52 during the "Linebacker" raids of
December 1972, The NVA surrounded the wreckage of the aircraft
with a fence and placed a sign on the fence [in English] that
said, "Caged, the MOST Dangerous Beast of them ALL!!!"

THE MOST DANGEROUS BEAST OF THEM ALL??!!

Yes, and for some time to come too!!

coolbert.