Air Force Not Being Stealthy About Upgrading B-2



LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. --- The Air Force isn't being stealthy about plans to upgrade its B-2 Spirit fleet; officials say the bomber will need numerous upgrades over its life span.  

Some upgrades are already complete, but others are planned years, even decades ahead, said Lt. Col. Brian Zembraski, 509th Bomb Wing director of staff at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.  

"We need to look to the future to the ways to keep up with the changes in technology, improve upon the aircraft, implement those things in any future platforms that the Air Force may move towards," Colonel Zembraski said.  

The colonel said the B-2 has already been fitted with improved bomb racks that have increased the number of 500-pound guided bombs these aircraft can carry from 16 to 80, a 500-percent expansion. More important upgrades are coming, he said.  

In addition, Colonel Zembraski said improvements have been made to the Spirit's coating, which has reduced maintenance actions from days to minutes.  

Next in line for the B-2 is "Link-16," a radio that will feed targeting information directly to individual bombs. Other future upgrades include radar updates, which will enable the B-2's weaponry to reach targets further underground.  

"With the capabilities of satellite communications, our ability to get e-mail into the cockpit, direct communications into the cockpit, pictures of the battlefield with Link 16, (it) is absolutely essential to the battlefield of today," the colonel said.  

-ends-  

The ability to get emails into the cockpit...hmmmm,

80 x 500 LB. guided bombs is a nice "to do" list.

That's gotta be pretty embarassing for the original engineers who could only fit 16 bombs in the thing.  

"Hey, we never thought of that!"

Quoted: The ability to get emails into the cockpit...hmmmm,

How to disable a $50 trillion stealth bomber? Spam 'em with Viagra ads.

Quoted: The ability to get emails into the cockpit...hmmmm,

imagine, surfing arfcom from the cockpit of a B-2 while on a mission....

Quoted: Quoted: The ability to get emails into the cockpit...hmmmm, imagine, surfing arfcom from the cockpit of a B-2 while on a mission....

Or looking at porn while playing with their joystick

Quoted: 80 x 500 LB. guided bombs is a nice "to do" list.

Hell ya!  That's a pretty worthwhile upgrade I'd say!

"Nice Rack!"  Seriously, who didn't realize that they could fit more in there?

"Hey guys, maybe if we rearrange the couches, put the tv over there, we could fit a couple more of these metal thingies..."

Sounds more like a move to use R&M money instead of development money.
It comes from seperate pots and is treated differently.
The R&M of many systems swamps the initial acquisition cost if the systemhas a decent lifespan.

Quoted: "Nice Rack!"  Seriously, who didn't realize that they could fit more in there? "Hey guys, maybe if we rearrange the couches, put the tv over there, we could fit a couple more of these metal thingies..."

"Do we really need the Espresso machine guys?  I mean, c'mon seriously....and the squat press? Really guys...."

the half pipe stays

They better keep those things flying for a while. $2,000,000,000 a pop isn't exactly chump change. They seem to be working out pretty well for the Air Force though. Glad to see the money isn't being wasted.

Quoted: That's gotta be pretty embarassing for the original engineers who could only fit 16 bombs in the thing.   "Hey, we never thought of that!"

It was thought of, it was never implemented because the B-2 bomber was built to drop nuclear weapons on the USSR as part of the stratigic defense triad.

Submarine launched ICBM's, land-based ICBM's and aircraft launched bombs or missiles.

Quoted: That's gotta be pretty embarassing for the original engineers who could only fit 16 bombs in the thing.   "Hey, we never thought of that!"

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/b-2.htm



The 80 bombs does not seem new.  They are just converting more of the planes to carry bombs instead of nukes.

Other future upgrades include radar updates, which will enable the B-2's weaponry to reach targets further underground.

Got that, Iran?

On the Navy's NKC-135's and the EC-24A they had satcom and could get internet once in a stable orbit.

The E-6B can do the same.

Quoted: Quoted: "Nice Rack!"  Seriously, who didn't realize that they could fit more in there? "Hey guys, maybe if we rearrange the couches, put the tv over there, we could fit a couple more of these metal thingies..." "Do we really need the Espresso machine guys?  I mean, c'mon seriously....and the squat press? Really guys...."

"Alright, lose the expresso machine, and you can take the squat press if you must, but the Nordic Trak and the jacuzzi are staying or I QUIT!"

Quoted: Quoted: That's gotta be pretty embarassing for the original engineers who could only fit 16 bombs in the thing.   "Hey, we never thought of that!" http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/b-2.htm www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/load-b2.gif The 80 bombs does not seem new.  They are just converting more of the planes to carry bombs instead of nukes.

Not really sure what those numbers mean, but just one would be more than i'd like to experiance.

Quoted: "Nice Rack!"  Seriously, who didn't realize that they could fit more in there? "Hey guys, maybe if we rearrange the couches, put the tv over there, we could fit a couple more of these metal thingies..."

It was originally designed with two 8 round rotary launchers.  They could carry all the same fun things that the B-1 rotary launchers can, cruise missiles, bombs, etc.  The same launchers could be loaded with 500lb, 1000lb, or 2000lb bombs but they way they were configured they could still only hold 8 each.  Creating bomb racks to rack and stack 500lb bombs like in a BUFF is a pain in the ass, and was totally unneccesary to the original design.  We already had the BUFF and B-1 as bomb trucks after all.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: "Nice Rack!"  Seriously, who didn't realize that they could fit more in there? "Hey guys, maybe if we rearrange the couches, put the tv over there, we could fit a couple more of these metal thingies..." "Do we really need the Espresso machine guys?  I mean, c'mon seriously....and the squat press? Really guys...." "Alright, lose the expresso machine, and you can take the squat press if you must, but the Nordic Trak and the jacuzzi are staying or I QUIT!"

"Damnit Johnson, you are one tough cookie.  Alright fine, you got it."

Oh.

Quoted: "Nice Rack!"  Seriously, who didn't realize that they could fit more in there? "Hey guys, maybe if we rearrange the couches, put the tv over there, we could fit a couple more of these metal thingies..."

Or more like, "Hey guys, do we really need two tanning beds??"

Quoted: Quoted: "Nice Rack!"  Seriously, who didn't realize that they could fit more in there? "Hey guys, maybe if we rearrange the couches, put the tv over there, we could fit a couple more of these metal thingies..." Or more like, "Hey guys, do we really need two tanning beds??"

I bet they start making the manicurist stay behind when they go on a mission.

cut the crap, develop UAV's to fill the role

Quoted: Other future upgrades include radar updates, which will enable the B-2's weaponry to reach targets further underground.   Got that, Iran?

And that there is probably the reason for the announcement as much as anything.

The reason for the 16 bombs is each bay usually has a rotary launcher with 8 stations.

When you talking about B83's B61's and SRAM's 16 stations is more than enough.

B-1 got prority for getting the different bomb bay insert for conventional smaller bombs.

16 2000lb JDAM's is plenty.  Who wants measely 500lb'ers

Quoted: Quoted: That's gotta be pretty embarassing for the original engineers who could only fit 16 bombs in the thing.   "Hey, we never thought of that!" http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/b-2.htm www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/load-b2.gif The 80 bombs does not seem new.  They are just converting more of the planes to carry bombs instead of nukes.

Its 80 500 lb JDAMS that is new, not plain old Mk 82s.



B-2 Spirit 80 JDAM test video

Quoted: Quoted: "Nice Rack!"  Seriously, who didn't realize that they could fit more in there? "Hey guys, maybe if we rearrange the couches, put the tv over there, we could fit a couple more of these metal thingies..." Or more like, "Hey guys, do we really need two tanning beds??"

come on now dude, they'd never even think of getting rid of the tanning beds.

Quoted: Quoted: That's gotta be pretty embarassing for the original engineers who could only fit 16 bombs in the thing.   "Hey, we never thought of that!" It was thought of, it was never implemented because the B-2 bomber was built to drop nuclear weapons on the USSR as part of the stratigic defense triad. Submarine launched ICBM's, land-based ICBM's and aircraft launched bombs or missiles.

Do these upgrades in any way reduce the ability of the B-2 to drop nukes?



-K

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: "Nice Rack!"  Seriously, who didn't realize that they could fit more in there? "Hey guys, maybe if we rearrange the couches, put the tv over there, we could fit a couple more of these metal thingies..." Or more like, "Hey guys, do we really need two tanning beds??" I bet they start making the manicurist stay behind when they go on a mission.

Well now lets not get carried away...