Boeing has taken the first step in a major initiative to enhance the radar capabilities of the U.S. Air Force’s B-52 aircraft.
As part of the Radar Modernization Program (RMP), the initial B-52 has landed at Boeing to begin upgrades.
According to the press release, the RMP program aims to bestow “fighter-like” radar capabilities on the B-52, enhancing navigation accuracy and target tracking while providing new, high-resolution mapping capabilities. The revamped radar system is also anticipated to manage multiple targets simultaneously.
Jennifer Wong, Director of Bomber Programs, underlined the importance of these upgrades. “The B-52 brings unique, critical capabilities to the U.S. Air Force as they move to a future two-bomber platform strategy. By modernizing the B-52 radar, we’re increasing the relevancy of the aircraft for the warfighter for close air support or strategic attack.”
Boeing is ready to embark on the low-rate initial production of the new radar system following a successful and timely Critical Design Review.
The firm say that the enhancements will take place at Boeing sites in Oklahoma City and San Antonio. The RMP program upgrades comprise a wide-band radome on the aircraft’s nose, two high-definition touch-screen large area displays, two display sensor system processors linking the radar with other B-52 systems, two hand controllers, and a cutting-edge active electronically scanned array radar.
👍😊 (About damned time the first of a planned series of enhancements is underway! USAF may have need of BUFF’s capabilities w/in foreseeable future.)
I tried a while ago to find out what radar if any the B52 had already. Did not find out much. An old radar that was about it.
The B52 has a pretty ancient ground mapping and weather radar, pretty much in a similar league to that used on the Vulcan. You turn it on and the World knows. It is getting as a replacement a variant of Raytheon’s AN/APG-79/82 AESA radar as used in the US Hornet and F15 fleets. It is a good radar, though not in the same league as the F35’s AN/APG-81. Its possible that due to the much larger nose volume of the B52, that the array may get additional transmitter-receiver modules (TRMs). This will have a number of positive affects, notably generating… Read more »
Incredible really, what they are doing with this old girl. Given em hell Buff.
So what does this actually help the aircraft do? Obviously track what’s in the sky and maybe help with weather. Does it bring anything to help with the dropping of bombs/cruise missiles?
Modified Raytheon AN/APG-79 radar utilized in F/A-18 W/F Super Hornet (should be capable of performing almost everything short of preparing five course gourmet meals 😁).
…E/F…🙄
It could probably microwave a meal.
😁👍
Actually, to extract snippets from multiple articles…”increased situational awareness… enhanced navigational efficiency…high resolution ground mapping…supports capability to engage multiple targets…” Essentially everything on the wish list. 🤔😳😊
navigational accuracy…
Getting better with Age just like a fine wine 🍷
Can they put a few amraam on them for self protection or pointless?
The new radar will give them that option. However, the B52 has a truly massive radar cross section, though still smaller than the Tu95’s. So a modern fighter aircraft such as a Chinese J15 would likely see it at close to its radar’s maximum detection range. But if the AN/APG-79/82 gets a bigger array, then its detection range will also reach further out. So it may detect the J15 before it is properly tracked, giving it time to bang off an AIM-260. Without the J15’s missile and radar specification alongside the enhanced B52 and its possible loadout. It would be… Read more »
Kinda hope some of those interesting possibilities occur to USAF. From the era when crew included gunner. Dunno, always made me feel better, even on training or test eval missions.
I’m trying to remember a book series about a team operating out of Area 51, who converted a B52 into a next generation bomber. Where it was also given air to air missiles. Perhaps fiction will become fact….
Possibly ‘Flight of the Old Dog,’ (1987) by Dale Brown (former USAF Navigator)? Don’t know whether still in print.
Flight of the Old Dog by Dale brown?
At one time, it was a standing joke that BUFF’s RCS would bloom on enemy radar display so massively that operators would have to decrease sensitivity settings. But there could be no doubt, Hell was acomin’ to town. 😁😉
From the force level perspective, putting a modern solid state AESA radar in as a replacement with modern consoles etc will increase availability.
Combined with all the other updates, the US will have a more usable, flexible bomber force with longer range, less maintenance and less pollution.
Not bad for a bit of Mid Century Classic design.