The U.S. Air Force's B-52J Bomber Problem
Story by Harrison Kass • 20h
The upcoming B-52J variant won’t be operational for another nine years, prompting the question: is the J-variant worth the wait?
B-52: What’s Old is New
The B-52 Stratofortress has been in service since the 1950s, making the eight-engined bomber one of the longest-tenured aircraft in the entire US Air Force, along with the C-130 Hercules and the U-2 Dragon Lady. Despite being in service for eighty years, the B-52 has stubbornly maintained its relevance, and with the J-variant on the way, the B-52 is scheduled to eclipse the one-century-in-service mark.
Of course, the airframe has benefited from a steady stream of upgrades to all of her systems, including avionics, power plant, ordnance, and more.
The B-52J will offer the latest upgrade, starting with a new Rolls Royce F-130 engine, which is expected to improve fuel economy while lowering the airframe’s radar cross section (RCS). Granted, the B-52 is never going to be a stealth aircraft, but the new engine will reduce the aircraft’s detectability against enemy aircraft. Additionally, the J-variant will feature an upgraded radar system, borrowed directly from the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-u-s-air-force-s-b-52j-bomber-problem/ar-AA1uRWip?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=f1475f3af3484d859c48e4156cea3c38&ei=41
