Electronic Weapons: June 16, 2002

Archives

The US Air Force and US Navy both agree that the country needs a single stand-off manned jammer aircraft to replace the EA-6B (and the EF-111A), but both are pursuing their own programs. A single unified design would require an aircraft both services use, and the obvious answer is the Joint Strike Fighter. The problem is that a jammer version of the F-35 JSF cannot be ready before the EA-6Bs are worn out. The Navy is moving ahead with the EF-18G Growler, which uses their new standard F-18F airframe and can be ready in time. The Air Force is considering several options, one of the best being to take the 17 surplus B-52Hs that Congress won't let them retire and convert them into stand-off jamming platforms. These would have incredible power, and plenty of room to pack in command facilities, datalinks to Rivet Joint and other sensor aircraft, and relief crews. The EB-52 would have the longest endurance of any jammer aircraft, and could stay aloft for days with in-flight refueling.--Stephen V Cole

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close