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B-52 StratofortressPROGRAM DOSSIER

Definition: The B-52 "Stratofortress" is a U.S. long-range, heavy bomber. It was produced by Boeing and continues to be maintained by the company.

Features: The B-52A achieved initial operational capa-bility (IOC) in 1954. The aircraft was designed to deliver nuclear weapons from high altitude to intercontinental ranges. Subsequent variants increased range, power and other, culminating in the B-52H, which entered service in 1961 and is the only variant remaining in service. Over

time, additional missions were added including conven-tional bombing, long-endurance close air support, cruise missile launch and maritime surveillance and strike.

The aircraft has a narrow body with long, swept wings, large fuel tanks and eight engines that permit travel at high subsonic speeds to an unrefueled range of 8,800 mi. With air-to-air refueling, the aircraft's range is lim-ited only by the crew's endurance. The bomber can carry 70,000 lb. of ordnance on two underwing pylons and in a central bomb bay. The bay accommodates either one com-mon strategic rotary launcher (CRSL), one Conventional Rotary Launcher (CRL) – which can hold eight 2,000-lb bombs, eight cruise missiles or 32 Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs) – or various configurations of unguided weapons. The B-52 is compatible with the widest array of weapons of any U.S. combat aircraft. In conventional strike missions,

the B-52H typically carries 51 unguided 500-lb. bombs, 12 2,000-lb. Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), 16 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispensers (WCMDs) or 20 AGM-86C Conventional Air-launched Cruise Missiles (CALCMs). In the nuclear mission, the aircraft carries 20 AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCMs), 12 AGM-129 Advanced Cruise Missiles (ACMs) or eight nuclear free-fall bombs.

The original B-52's navigation and targeting capability consisted of the ASQ-176 offensive avionics system (OAS), which comprises an APQ-166 strategic radar, a Teledyne

navigation radar, a radar altimeter, a terrain contour matching system, an inertial navi-gation system (INS) and comput-ers for bombing and navigation. Starting in 2007, all B-52s were equipped with AAQ-28 Litening targeting pods. Since 2013, the fleet has been up-grading to Sniper pods with bet-ter stabilization and long-range target detection/identification. At night, the pilots also wear night vision goggles for improved situa-tional awareness.

Upgrades: Since 2000, the B-52 fleet has undergone several upgrades to its avionics, communications and targeting sys-tems as well as its weapons capability. In January 2000, the U.S. Air Force awarded a $108 million contract to Boeing to execute an Avionics Midlife Improvement (AMI) program for the fleet's OAS, which included a new SNU-84 INS unit, new avionics computers with faster processors and an open architecture and a new data transfer system. In September 2009, Boeing received a $5.4 million contract to install ex-tremely high frequency (EHF) radio terminals across the fleet, allowing the aircraft to exchange information with multiple ground, air and space platforms.

At present, the U.S. B-52 fleet is undergoing four major upgrades to further improve its communications, naviga-

—Continued

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B-52 Stratofortress, ContinuedPROGRAM DOSSIER

tion and weapons capabilities.The Combat Network Communications Technology (CO-

NECT) upgrade is installing new software and hardware for improved communications. The upgrade also installs digital workstations for the crew and a nuclear-surviv-able, digital interphone system. The cockpit also will receive multifunction color displays (MCFDs) that will provide moving maps of nearby terrain and the aircraft's fl ight path. The CONECT upgrade is projected to cost $1.1 billion. Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) was completed in November 2011. The Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot 1 contract was awarded in May 2013.

The 1760 Internal Weapons Bay Upgrade (IWBU) is in-tended to increase the bomber's weapons capabilities. Currently, the aircraft can carry only 12 "J-series" weap-ons – JDAMs and AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missiles (JASSM) – externally, with six on each pylon. This program will add a digital interface to the CRL as well as more wiring to the external pylons, allowing the bomber to carry more guided weapons. Increment 1.1 will enable the CRL to carry eight JDAMS, including Laser JDAMs (LJDAMs), and allow the external pylons to carry 16 LJDAMs. Increment 1.2 will allow the CRL to carry eight rounds of either the JASSM, JASSM-Extended Range (JASSM-ER), Miniature air-launched Decoys (MALD) or the MALD-Jammer (MALD-J). This increment also will allow the external pylons to carry 12 JASSM-ERs. The IWBU is expected to cost roughly $313 million in total. The Engi-neering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) contract was awarded in September 2013. Developmental fl ight testing for Increment 1.1 was scheduled to occur between February 2015 and May 2015. Initial capability is expected to be achieved in 2016.

The third upgrade – the Communication Navigation & Surveillance/Air Traffi c Management (CNS/ATM) eff ort – will allow the aircraft to operate in modern air-traffi c environments. The change will bring the aircraft into compliance with mandates from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the FAA. Presently, the

B-52's APX-64 Identifi cation, Friend or Foe (IFF) transpon-der will not allow the aircraft to fl y in airspace where new separation standards and air traffi c management proce-dures apply.

The fi nal upgrade replaces the aircraft's anti-skid sys-tem, which maintains control of the aircraft during land-ings and taxi operations and prevents skidding by sensing the amount of brake pressure needed for safe deceleration without tire damage. As with other parts of the aircraft, because of the age of the system, the support contractor is running out of replacement parts, test equipment and qualifi ed repair personnel. This upgrade will replace the system with one more easily supported by current suppliers.

Finally, unrelated to the above four upgrades, changes are being made to the B-52 fl eet in accordance with the New START Treaty. Several B-52s are being removed from the nuclear mission by removing the Code Enable Switches and associated equipment.

Production and Status: A total of 744 B-52s were built between 1952 and 1962, including 101 B-52Hs, which were delivered between May 1961 and October 1962. The U.S. Air Force has 76 aircraft remaining in service – 58 in ac-tive units and 18 in reserve units. While a decrease in the availability of spare parts and qualifi ed technicians is hampering the fl eet, the remaining B-52s are expected to keep fl ying through 2040

—Dan Katz

All Program Dossier data is excerpted from the Aviation Week Intelligence Network (awin.aviationweek.com). To learn how to

receive full access to dozens of updated online profi les of major international defense programs, call +1 703.997.0275 or email mark.hyer@aviationweek.com.

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prepared by Dan K

atz

Specifications: B-52H Stratofortress

Designation: B-52H

Name: Stratofortress

Manufacturer: Boeing

Category/Type: Bomber

Crew: 5 (commander, pilot, radar navigator, navigator, EW officer)

IOC: 1952 (B-52A), 1961 (B-52H)

Dimensions and WeightsLength: 159 ft. 4 in. (48.5 m) 

Wingspan: 185 ft. (56.4 m) 

Height: 40 ft. 8 in. (12.4 m) 

Wing Area: 4,000 ft² (370 m²)

Aspect Ratio: 8.56

Weight (empty): 185,000 lb. (83,250 kg) 

Weight (max take-off): 488,000 lb. (219,600 kg)

PerformanceEngines: 8 x P&W TF33-P-3/103

Thrust: 17,000 lb. each

Max Speed: 650 mph (Mach 0.84) 

Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft. (15,200 m) 

Fuel Capacity 312,200 lb. (141,600 kg) - ~48,000 ga.

Range: 8,800 mi. (14,200 km)

WeaponsMax Payload: 70,000 lb. (31,500 kg) 

Weapons Compatability/Capacity: 51 Mk82 500-lb. bomb

51 Mk117 750-lb. bomb

18 Mk84 2,000-lb.-bomb

40 CBU-87 cluster bomb

42 CBU-89 GATOR mine system

10 GBU-10/12 Paveway II (500 lb. / 2,000 lb.) LGB

4 GBU-28 5,000-lb. laser-guided bunker busting bomb

12 GBU-21/32/38 JDAM or JSOW

16 CBU-103/104/105 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispensers (WCMD)

20 AGM-86C Conventional Air launched Cruise Missiles (CALCM)

8 AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile

20 Mk56 mine

51 Mk62 mine

18 Mk63 mine

18 Mk65 mine20 AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missile [nuclear]

12 AGM-126 Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM) [nuclear]

8 B61 nuclear bomb

Source: Aviation Week Intelligence Network Continued

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Specifi cations: B-52H Stratofortress

AvionicsRadar: Northrop Grumman APQ-166 Strategic Radar

Northrop Grumman ALQ-153 Pulse-Doppler tail threat warner

Radar Warning Receiver: ALR-20A 

ALR-46

Electronic Countermeasures: ITT ALQ-172(V)2 ECM

Motorola ALQ-122 Multiple False Target Generator

ALT-32 Noise Jammer

Northrop Grumman ALQ-155 Jammer Power Management System

Chafe/ Flare Dispensers: 12 ALE-20 infrared fl are dispensers

8 ALE-24 chaff dispensers

Other Avionics: IBM / Raytheon ASQ-38 bombing and navigation system

ASQ-151 Electro-optical viewing system (EVS) - Raytheon AAQ-6 Forward-Look-ing Infrared (FLIR) in right turret and Northrop Grumman AVQ-22 low-light-level television camera (LLTV) in the left turret.

Honeywell radar altimeter

Smiths attitude heading and reference system

Tercom terrain comparison

Teledyne Ryan Doppler navigation radar

Honeywell AN/ASN-131 inertial navigation system, upgraded to SNU-84 starting in Jan. 2000

Unit cost: $84M (FY12) 

Source: Aviation Week Intelligence Network

prepared by Dan K

atz

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