The B-52 Bomber Is Getting Some Big Updates. But Is It A Waste Of Money?
ByBrent M. EastwoodPublished3 hours ago
Just when you think the B-52 bomber has seen better days, Boeing drags you back in. The defense giant has released a computer-generated rendering of what an updated B-52 will look like once it gets its new engines, the latest radar, and undergoes other cosmetic changes. These upgrades are some of the most substantial modifications in decades, and they will keep the B-52 in service until at least 2050. The question remains whether it is wise to put so much effort into a bomber whose mission set might nevertheless be substantially constrained compared to the past.
Getting Nosy
The Stratofortress will have a new, sleek appearance. Rolls-Royce F130 turbofans will propel this B-52 variant, which will be designated as the B-52J or B-52K. The four engine pods will be larger, with each containing two F130 powerplants. The new engines will be more fuel-efficient, will have new digital controls, and will require less maintenance. The updated B-52 will also cost less to fly.
Boeing went back to basics on the nose design. The latest B-52 models will have a rounded nose, and no fairings will sit beneath the bomber’s front. Those components previously housed the dated Electro-Optical Viewing System, with its forward-looking infrared apparatus and low-light-level television system. This set-up was used to facilitate flight at lower altitudes and to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/11/the-b-52-bomber-is-getting-some-big-updates-but-is-it-a-waste-of-money/
