The U.S. Air Force’s B-52 Stratofortress has added a deadly new capability to its diverse skill set.
Joint Attack Surface Standoff Missiles, or JASSMs, were recently launched from the internal weapons bay of the long-ranger bomber for the first time. Although JASSMs have been used on wing pylons for some time, the weapons bay previously was reserved for “dumb bombs.”
“That was a first-ever for the B-52, and is also going to be another amazing enhancement in B-52 combat capability for Global Strike,” said Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander, who flew the F-16 photo chase plane for the JASSM mission, the Air Force reported Aug. 12. “I got to chase the first-ever JASSM drop from the internal weapons bay of the B-52. We dropped it right here on the range at Edwards.”
The feat allows the Air Force to increase the B-52’s stand-off cruise missile payload by more than 60 percent, The Diplomat reported Tuesday.
Jose Estrada, a weapons integration engineer with the USAF’s 775th Test Squadron, also told the defense website that storing JASSMs in the internal weapons bay extends the range of missions.
“For long-range operations, this means less drag. The aircraft can fly further and faster and still return to base after the mission,” Mr. Estrada said.
The B-52 Stratofortress has served the U.S. military for over 40 years (although the B-52A conducted missions as early as 1954). The Boeing plane can carry a payload up to 70,000 pounds, has a range of 8,800 miles, and a ceiling of 50,000 feet.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.