July 3,
2008: The U.S. Air Force has revived a
program to convert some of its B-52 heavy bombers into radar jamming aircraft.
This would be done by equipping the bombers with jamming pods (that are similar
in appearance to large bombs). The air force plans to buy 24 sets of pods, for
a force of 34 B-52s. Each pair of pods would cost about $100 million (including
development.) There would be some modification to the B-52s, so members of the
crew could operate the jammers.
Back in
the 1980s and 90s, a version of the F-111 carried out this function, and did it
very well. But the air force retired the EF-111 a decade ago, and agreed to
split the cost, and share the use, of U.S. Navy jamming aircraft. The U.S. Navy
is just introducing the EA-18G jamming aircraft (based on the F-18) to replace
the 40 year old EA-6B jamming aircraft. The air force believes the navy won't
buy enough EA-18Gs to meet navy and air force needs. So the B-52 is being
brought in to help out. The navy plans to buy about fifty EA-18Gs, for about
$73 million each. It will take at least five years to get the EB-52 into
service. The last attempt at this was cancelled because the costs got out of
control. But this time the manufacturers assure everyone that everything is
under control. Really. Seriously.
