First B-52 arrives for radar upgrade

The first B-52H, 60-0061, arrived at the Boeing facilities in San Antonio on May 25th to receive the first AESA radar upgrade. The radar, manufactured by Raytheon and using technologies from the AN/APG-79 and AN/APG-82 systems. The radar is basically the AN/APG-79B4 used in the F-18E/F, but turned upside down so that it will track more ground targets than airborne targets. It will improve the mapping capabilities of the B-52, as well as allowing them to engage more targets simultaneously, as well as seeing farther. It's part of the B-52J upgrade that will include F130 engines, that will allow the aircraft to fly until 2050 or longer.

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas --
A B-52 from the 307th Bomb Wing arrived at a Boeing Co., facility in San Antonio, on May 25, to begin receiving the Active Electronically Scanned Array system (AESA), as part of the Air Force’s B-52 Radar Modernization Program.

“The arrival of this aircraft is a big deal, and signals the beginning of a key part of our effort to modernize the B-52 fleet,” said Col. Louis Ruscetta, Senior Materiel Leader for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s B-52 Program Office, which is leading the Radar Modernization Program, and overall effort to modernize the bomber. “AESA will replace 1960s radar technology, and greatly increase the navigation and targeting capabilities of the B-52 in higher threat areas.”

In addition to increased situational awareness and navigation and targeting ability, AESA is designed to be adaptable, so that new capabilities to address future threats, can be added via software modifications.

www.afmc.af.mil...

It’s amazing that the B52 is still going since its maiden flight 71 years ago and still remains relevant. If it goes till 2050 or longer as they’re saying, it will have been in duty for 100yrs. 😳

a reply to: mtnshredder

Way back in the 90s they were already planning on at LEAST 2040 before retirement. The radar upgrade will let them be more relevant in higher threat environments. Not a true high threat environment, but higher than they currently can operate in.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Not to mention the new weapons that will extend its reach without entering those higher threat envelops. The firepower these beasts can already carry is truly staggering--adding smaller, yet even more powerful, and accurate weapons...I'd, personally, be rather reluctant to get on the BUFFS bad side.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Definitely a testament to the engineering and quality of the bird. We still have 70 of them, lol.

a reply to: mtnshredder

And it was designed on a napkin in a hotel room, over a weekend.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: mtnshredder

And it was designed on a napkin in a hotel room, over a weekend.

Oh gosh, that’s an interesting tid bit of history.

a reply to: mtnshredder

The original B-52 was a straight wing turboprop. Three engineers were presenting their design and proposal. The project manager suggested that they develop a swept wing design using the new J57 turbojet. That was on Thursday, October 21, 1948. The engineers told him they'd be ready Monday. Their boss and two other engineers arrived to help, and by Monday they had a 35 page proposal, three view drawings, and a balsa wood model that their boss had carved.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: mtnshredder

The original B-52 was a straight wing turboprop. Three engineers were presenting their design and proposal. The project manager suggested that they develop a swept wing design using the new J57 turbojet. That was on Thursday, October 21, 1948. The engineers told him they'd be ready Monday. Their boss and two other engineers arrived to help, and by Monday they had a 35 page proposal, three view drawings, and a balsa wood model that their boss had carved.

That’s crazy, probably never happen in todays world.

a reply to: Zaphod58

With a balsa wood model being carved at the same time.

Amazing doesn't quite cover it.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Wow thank you for sharing Zaph.
It's mind boggling the things they think of.
I never would have thought of this type of navigation. Though I am not on the up and up when it comes to these types of things.
Love the history lesson too!

a reply to: mtnshredder

Not in America, that's for sure.

You couldn't get three top engineers to design anything in a weekend anymore, they need an army of lawyers just to deal with the patent office.

If they did come up with a better design the CIA would disappear them and the CCP would be field testing that design a month later.


Innovation died in America at least 40 years ago