Could this be the return of SAC

At Barksdale Air Force Base, the B-52 parking area known as "The Christmas Tree" and its associated barracks have stood empty since 1991. Both were used until then for nuclear armed bombers and their crews. Now, work has begun to return the barracks to a liveable condition in preparation for the order to come down for the bombers to head back to The Tree, and crews to move back into quarters.

The Air Force is studying putting the aircraft on alert again as an acknowledgement of how rapidly the world is changing and the many threats out there. The order hasn't yet been given, but based on comments from the leadership, it's a matter of when, not if at this point.

“I’ve challenged…Air Force Global Strike Command to help lead the dialog, help with this discussion about ‘What does conventional conflict look like with a nuclear element?’ and ‘Do we respond as a global force if that were to occur?’ and ‘What are the options?’” he said. “How do we think about it — how do we think about deterrence in that environment?”

www.defenseone.com...

a reply to: Zaphod58

Barksdale AFB. The unofficial home base of Snoopy .
They gonna put those "live birds" back in the barracks ?

But in all honesty what exactly would you put back on alert from a strategic standpoint? B-2's and B-52's? which would take hours to reach any sort of deterrence position.

Far better IMHO to preposition tactical and air superiority packages (F-35's, -22;s F-15, F-16's, B-1's, drones plus C4I air-frames and tankers) on a more or less permanent basis near potential spots

a reply to: FredT

There are alert facilities outside the US. They stood alert on Guam for most of the Cold War.

We have all heard how militarizes are famous for fighting a new war like the last war... With today's missile tech available to many of our possible enemies, and the grouping of limited ground based assets it kinda reminds me of another Pearl Harbor just waiting to happen. Thank goodness for Boomers and their retaliation capabilities. Much of this stuff is for show I know, but wide and far dispersion really should be considered...

At least the base is getting refurbished instead of falling totally into disrepair.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: FredT

There are alert facilities outside the US. They stood alert on Guam for most of the Cold War.

Yeah I know, maybe expand this rather than station ready alert BUFFS to generate SIOP sorties that short of a nuclear war does little to help the USAF prepare for asymetical stuff

if your worried about an all out nuclear conflict from peer/near peer states ie. China and Russia then maybe. But you don't need this to deal with a nuclear armed NK.

originally posted by: FredT
But in all honesty what exactly would you put back on alert from a strategic standpoint? B-2's and B-52's? which would take hours to reach any sort of deterrence position.

Far better IMHO to preposition tactical and air superiority packages (F-35's, -22;s F-15, F-16's, B-1's, drones plus C4I air-frames and tankers) on a more or less permanent basis near potential spots

The major reason for Barksdale was aircraft repair of BUFFs that had became nearly unflyable. It was in the rear of "The Cold War"
Had Eielson for the up close and personal B-52s .
Well , Barksdale was used for AIT for specific roles in SAC as well.

a reply to: FredT

That's why, if you're going to bring back the Alert Force, it makes sense to tie up the bombers. Tactical Aviation is more important in an asymmetrical fight than a few heavy bombers. Yeah, the loiter time and payload are nice, but a force that can respond quickly, and load out as necessary is better.

You're going to see them at Barksdale, Minot, Anderson, and possibly Fairford.

I rode over to Barksdale a few months ago on my motorcycle to see the museum and their stuffed & mounted SR-71. Fun to watch the B-52s landing & taking off. Sentry on the gate was cool too. I parked as close as I could to the gate and approached on foot cause I had a concealed carry pistol in my saddlebag. I explained the situation and told the young airman, "Don't let anyone mess with my bike, Ok?" He smiled and said, "Don't worry sir, I can hit em from here." LOL!

a reply to: FredT

The strategic and tactical advantages of a SAC like force aren't just the optics visible to the public. When you can sortie a significant sized air wing of B-52's and aerial tankers... the enemy is well aware there will be a mass of nuclear ordinance packages in the air LONG before enemy payloads make contact with North America.

Although... we really don't know, and really shouldn't know, the whole story behind enhancements and strategies for a nuclear response to an enemy nuclear provocation.

We have extremely advanced delivery technologies that to the public, are thought of as speculation and tinfoil hats. Highly maneuverable sub-orbital hypersonic payload delivery, anyone?

The American aerospace industry has been studying exotic engines and fuel systems for decades.

The biggest problem we have as a nation, is how much the political idiots in Washington have compromised programs and National Security, because of the dirty little secrets they have packed in their closets.

I don't like musing about it much... it is pretty disturbing stuff. But... if you think about it...

...imagine politicians in very sensitive areas with significant power, actually WERE involved in pedophelia and other extremly disturbing behaviors. Sadly, there would certainly be those involved in that kind of depravity that when choosing between being "outed" for their crimes... or nuclear conflict... would choose the nuclear conflict without too much consideration.

THAT'S why having dirty scumbags in elected office is so dangerous to a nation state.

a reply to: dasman888

star and we may have other worldly ability weapons and craft....I see so much newer design craft flying over at night.....

pvs-14 spots 'em easy......the new B-2 wing.....different trailing edge now

originally posted by: Zaphod58
The Air Force is studying putting the aircraft on alert again as an acknowledgement of how rapidly the world is changing and the many threats out there. The order hasn't yet been given, but based on comments from the leadership, it's a matter of when, not if at this point.

Oh nice. Just one question, why?

Returning to Cold War era alert levels for the B-52 fleet is just about the last thing the US needs.
I’d sure like to know what farfetched scenarios they are dreaming up to come to this conclusion.
At the moment, only Russia has the capability to threaten the US nuclear force in any meaningful way and to conduct a decapitating first strike.
China isn’t there yet, they will be eventually, but they are on a second strike setting currently. They simply lack the warheads and strategic delivery system to conduct more than counter value attacks.
The same is true for any other nuclear actor in the world. Including crazy North Koreans.

No matter what happens, there will always be someone left to respond. Not even Russia can hope to get every lone Ohio and ICBM missile silo. They’ll never have this capability, no matter how aggressive they are upgrading their arsenal.
Not to mention the thought of them even considering to try is just asinine.

So why is there a need for an alert force with a 24/7 sortie on warning capability? Deterrence?
Don’t make me laugh. Putting B-52s on high alert doesn’t add anything to deterrence. Ohios with Trident works as a deterrent because nobody has the capability to hunt them down. B-52s armed with nuclear tipped AGM-86B ALCMs won’t do well against modern Russian Air Defenses. There is a reason why LRSO for the B-21 is still alive.

And whats to change for rogue state actors like North Korea? Does anyone honestly think putting a couple of nuclear armed B-52 on the tarmac at Barksdale will deter Kim from vaporizing some billion liters of the pacific ocean? Or god forbid, deter him from nuking Guam/Hawaii/the West Coast? Why? This is just stupid. There would be a response anyway, B-52s on alert or not.

All it would achieve is some crazy media fire storm and some moderate political fallout. Trump threatening nuclear war. Trump preparing for nuclear first strike. Trump bringing back the Cold War. Trump is going to declare war on Kim. Trump is going to declare war on Putin. Trump will destroy the world. Trump is going to kill as all. Blablabla

Meanwhile those B-52s on high alert will do nothing but consume money. Money the Air Force doesn’t have and will have to come from somewhere. What are you willing to cut for this crap?

And its not just B-52s and money, its tanker assets and force availability as well. The B-52 fleet is not without work. The B-52s have a conventional role and are routinely deployed around the world. Putting some on nuclear alert on some CONUS base will put an additional burden on the rest of the Air Force. The gap needs to be filled somehow.

If you want to beef up deterence make sure the Oihio patrol schedule is not slipping and dont screw up the Columbia procurement.

Much as im fond of aircraft and would love to see a wing of B1/2/52
on semi/permanent deployment to Fairford (my local RAF/USAF base)
i have to wonder what the point is.
We all know tech has moved on a long way from mass flights of heavy bombers
and the strategic role has long been in the hands of our respective submarine
fleets with their obvious tactical advantages.
The US/NATO already has numerous aircraft and other assets available
world wide for limited quick strike operations anywhere at short notice.
so this renovation/activation seems a bit unnecessary!

www.cnbc.com...

The USAF is denying it going to a 24 hour alert status but is looking at improving readiness at bases.

a reply to: ShayneJUK

I've long been worried about that incoherent moron, the commander in chief. You just know this is him feeling big and clever.

a reply to: FredT

Yeah, sorry but I'm going with CSAF over a talking head. And he didn't say they were, he said they were preparing to if the order is given.

a reply to: Zaphod58

love me some Jimmy Stewart

Seems like a step backwards, doesn't it? B-52s aren't particularly survivable for penetrating hostile airspace as far as I know, and SLBMs pretty much have deterrence covered at this point. Which is part of why SAC and Chrome Dome missions went out of style in the first place.

Gotta love how the media are blowing this out of proportion. They way they are portraying it is as if we've gone back to the Cold War days. However I'd like to see more activity at Fairford that would be nice, would it effect RIAT though if Fairford became more of an active base

I think it's a great idea. Lets keep poking and poking until we push ourselves into a war that there's no coming back from!!!