Replacing America's Aging Bomber Fleet (B-52, B-1, B-2)

Replacing America's Aging Bomber Fleet (B-52, B-1, B-2)
Author: Department of Defense (DoD)
Publisher:
Total Pages: 293
Release: 2018-04
Genre:
ISBN: 9781980716266

America's fleet of strategic nuclear and conventional bombers - the B-52, B-1, B-2 - is rapidly aging, and Air Force officials are pursuing a replacement bomber, currently called the Long-Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B). Other ground attack options are being explored, including conventionally-armed ICBM missiles and space-based systems. This unique ebook reproduces a dozen unique military documents and reports about this critical national security issue, with extensive information about all aspects of the current bomber fleet. Part 1 - Overview * Part 2: Long-Range Strike - The Bedrock of Deterrence and America's Strategic Advantage * Part 3: U.S. Air Force Long-Range Strike Aircraft White Paper * Part 4: Alternatives for Long-Range Ground-Attack Systems * Part 5: Air Force Next-Generation Bomber: Background and Issues for Congress * Part 6: Strategic Systems - Presentation to the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, United States Senate * Part 7: A Range-Balanced Force - An Alternate Force Structure Adapted to New Defense Priorities * Part 8: Designing a Strategic Bomber: Evolving Operational Concepts * Part 9: Conventional Prompt Global Strike and Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues * Part 10: Space-Based Global Strike: Understanding Strategic and Military Implications * Part 11: Square Pegs and Round Holes: Air Force Doctrine and the B-2 Bomber * Part 12: U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues Long-range strike (LRS) and the often-associated phrase strategic attack are perhaps the most discussed but least understood terms in current military use. Despite, or perhaps because of, numerous definitions and formulations, we tend to overlook the real value of LRS capabilities in the minor details of numerous acquisition plans and concepts of operations. Many components comprise America's power to influence. Yet its ability to project conventional and nuclear military power across the globe at a time and place of our choosing represents the influential backstop for other US instruments of power. The latent threat of violence supported by a credible capability to hold an enemy's most valued resources at risk with little notice or chance for defense gives LRS its ultimate strategic value. Similarly, nations that maintain a robust LRS historically retain a strategic advantage against peer or near-peer state actors. Although the platform, plan, or strategy may change, the purpose of LRS remains the same-to under-gird political will by demonstrating credible, flexible, survivable, and visible military power. If the United States wishes to maintain a strategic advantage across the globe, it should heed lessons learned by past global powers and place capable LRS among the highest priorities for development, investment, and modernization-even in a fiscally constrained environment.

U.S. Air Force Bomber Sustainment and Modernization

U.S. Air Force Bomber Sustainment and Modernization
Author: Jeremiah Gertler
Publisher: CreateSpace
Total Pages: 78
Release: 2014-10-31
Genre:
ISBN: 9781503008892

The United States' existing long-range bomber fleet of B-52s, B-1s, and B-2s are at a critical point in their operational life span. With the average age of each airframe being 50, 28, and 20 years old, respectively, military analysts are beginning to question just how long these aircraft can physically last and continue to be credible weapon systems. As potential adversaries acquire 21st century defense systems designed to prevent U.S. access to the global commons (sea, air, space, and cyberspace) and to limit U.S. forces' freedom of action within an operational area, the ability of these Cold War era bombers to get close enough to targets to be effective will continue to deteriorate. Although the Air Force is committed to the development and acquisition of its proposed Long-Range Strike-Bomber (LRS-B), it is anticipated that flight-testing of the new bomber will not start until the mid-2020s, with initial operational capability near 2030. With this timeline in mind, the Air Force has extended the operational lives of the B-52 and B-1 out to 2040 and the B-2 out to 2058. Air Force and aerospace industry experts insist that with sufficient funding for sustainment and modernization over their expected lifespans, all three of the existing bombers can physically last and continue to remain credible weapon systems. However, appropriations decisions made by Congress based on required military capabilities to meet national security objectives will ultimately determine how long the B-52, B-1, and B-2 will remain in service.

Aging of U.S. Air Force Aircraft

Aging of U.S. Air Force Aircraft
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 124
Release: 1997-09-30
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0309174473

Many of the aircraft that form the backbone of the U.S. Air Force operational fleet are 25 years old or older. A few of these will be replaced with new aircraft, but many are expected to remain in service an additional 25 years or more. This book provides a strategy to address the technical needs and priorities associated with the Air Force's aging airframe structures. It includes a detailed summary of the structural status of the aging force, identification of key technical issues, recommendations for near-term engineering and management actions, and prioritized near-term and long-term research recommendations.

A Concise History of the U.S. Air Force

A Concise History of the U.S. Air Force
Author: Stephen Lee McFarland
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Total Pages: 96
Release: 1997
Genre: History
ISBN:

Except in a few instances, since World War II no American soldier or sailor has been attacked by enemy air power. Conversely, no enemy soldier orsailor has acted in combat without being attacked or at least threatened by American air power. Aviators have brought the air weapon to bear against enemies while denying them the same prerogative. This is the legacy of the U.S. AirForce, purchased at great cost in both human and material resources.More often than not, aerial pioneers had to fight technological ignorance, bureaucratic opposition, public apathy, and disagreement over purpose.Every step in the evolution of air power led into new and untrodden territory, driven by humanitarian impulses; by the search for higher, faster, and farther flight; or by the conviction that the air way was the best way. Warriors have always coveted the high ground. If technology permitted them to reach it, men, women andan air force held and exploited it-from Thomas Selfridge, first among so many who gave that "last full measure of devotion"; to Women's Airforce Service Pilot Ann Baumgartner, who broke social barriers to become the first Americanwoman to pilot a jet; to Benjamin Davis, who broke racial barriers to become the first African American to command a flying group; to Chuck Yeager, a one-time non-commissioned flight officer who was the first to exceed the speed of sound; to John Levitow, who earned the Medal of Honor by throwing himself over a live flare to save his gunship crew; to John Warden, who began a revolution in air power thought and strategy that was put to spectacular use in the Gulf War.Industrialization has brought total war and air power has brought the means to overfly an enemy's defenses and attack its sources of power directly. Americans have perceived air power from the start as a more efficient means of waging war and as a symbol of the nation's commitment to technology to master challenges, minimize casualties, and defeat adversaries.

B-52 Stratofortress

B-52 Stratofortress
Author: John Hamilton
Publisher: ABDO
Total Pages: 34
Release: 2013-01-01
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 1617836877

Presents information about the B-52 stratofortress, covering how it is used, its history, and its specifications.

United States Bomber Aircraft 1950-1959

United States Bomber Aircraft 1950-1959
Author: Source Wikipedia
Publisher: University-Press.org
Total Pages: 54
Release: 2013-09
Genre:
ISBN: 9781230520445

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 52. Chapters: Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, Boeing B-47 Stratojet, Douglas A-3 Skywarrior, Martin B-57 Canberra, Convair B-58 Hustler, List of B-47 units of the United States Air Force, List of surviving Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, Douglas B-66 Destroyer, Martin XB-51, WS-110A, Boeing XB-55, Boeing B-56, Martin Model 316, Convair YB-60, Boeing XB-59, WS-125. Excerpt: The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber designed and built by Boeing and operated by the United States Air Force (USAF). Beginning with the successful contract bid on 5 June 1946, the B-52 design evolved from a straight-wing aircraft powered by six turboprop engines to the final prototype YB-52 with eight turbojet engines and swept wings. The Stratofortress took its maiden flight in April 1952. Built to carry nuclear weapons for Cold War-era deterrence missions, the B-52 Stratofortress replaced the Convair B-36. Although a veteran of a number of wars, the Stratofortress has dropped only conventional munitions in combat. The B-52 carries up to 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) of weapons. Its Stratofortress name is rarely used outside of official contexts; it has been referred to by Air Force personnel as the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat/Flying Fucker/Fellow). The B-52 has been in active service with the USAF since 1955. The bombers flew under the Strategic Air Command (SAC) until it was disestablished in 1992 and its aircraft absorbed into the Air Combat Command (ACC). This remained the case until February 2010 when all B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit aircraft were transferred from ACC to the recently established Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). Superior performance at high subsonic speeds and relatively low operating costs have kept the B-52 in service despite the advent of later aircraft, including the Mach-3 North American...

The B-52 Stratofortress

The B-52 Stratofortress
Author: Meg Greene
Publisher: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc
Total Pages: 62
Release: 2002-12-15
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 9780823938728

Discusses history of the B-52 Stratofortress warplane and its use in the military campaigns in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Air Force Next-Generation Bomber (NGB)

Air Force Next-Generation Bomber (NGB)
Author: Jeremiah Gertler
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 48
Release: 2011-04
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1437932711

As part of its proposed FY 2010 defense budget, the Admin. proposed deferring the start of a program to develop a NGB for the Air Force, pending the completion of the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review and associated Nuclear Posture Review, and in light of strategic arms control negotiations with Russia. Contents of this report: (1) Intro.; (2) Admin. Proposal to Defer Start of NGB Program; NGB Program Prior to FY 2010 Budget Submission; Existing Bomber Fleet; (3) Issues for Congress: Future Roles and Missions of Bombers: Ability of Current Bomber Force to Perform Future Roles and Missions; Bomber Design and Construction Industrial Base; (4) Legislative Activity for FY 2010. Illus. This is a print on demand edition of an important, hard-to-find report.

Flying Blind

Flying Blind
Author: Michael Edward Brown
Publisher:
Total Pages: 384
Release: 1992
Genre: History
ISBN:

Flying Blind offers an astute analysis of the role of organizational forces in initiating and shaping weapons programs. Michael E. Brown concerns himself with how weapons programs begin and why they turn out as they do. In the process he redresses a large imbalance in our understanding of how nations arm themselves. In an unmatched account constructed from massive archival work and material declassified through the Freedom of Information Act, the author provides a detailed description of all fifteen postwar U.S. strategic bomber programs, from the B-35 to the B-2. Challenging the conventional wisdom about arms races and the weapons acquisition process, Brown marshals compelling evidence that Air Force reactions to strategic developments, not technological opportunism or industry initiative, brought about many major innovations in those programs. He also discusses competing explanations of the cost, schedule, and performance problems that plague U.S. acquisition efforts. He maintains that powerful strategic and bureaucratic forces lead American military organizations to set their performance requirements far beyond the state of the art and to push their programs as fast as possible. This, he argues, is a recipe for disaster. Developing a comprehensive explanation of the cost and performance problems that plague modern weapons programs, he presents policy recommendations designed to address these issues.