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Asia Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Asia Times
Cold War bomber, 21st century bill: B-52 upgrade faces fire
The B-52's radar upgrade has exceeded cost projections, triggering a Nunn-McCurdy breach and reigniting debate over whether modernizing the Cold War era bomber is still viable. The B-52 Radar Modernization Program (RMP)—a key step in converting the B-52H to the B-52J—has overrun its budget by 17%, surpassing the 15% threshold that mandates congressional review, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine. The upgrade, led by US defense contractor Raytheon via aerospace giant Boeing, replaces the aging AN/APQ-166 with a new active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, designated AN/APQ-188, a hybrid system based on radars used in the F-15 and F/A-18. A deviation report on the budget overrun was filed in April, with formal notification expected soon. Despite cost concerns, US Air Force acquisition officials are reportedly confident the program can proceed, refining requirements to ensure affordability while preserving critical capabilities. The first operational radar units are slated for 2027, with full integration dependent on budgetary feasibility. US Department of Defense (DOD) reports indicate technical requirements are being met, though concerns remain about radome shaping effects. Low-rate production decisions covering 28 aircraft are expected in 2026, with broader deployment following operational testing by 2028. The program's cost estimate has risen from US$2.3 billion to $2.6 billion. The US Air Force may have foreshadowed this Nunn-McCurdy notification by looking at alternatives to the AN/APQ-166, as The War Zone (TWZ) reported in March 2025. TWZ notes that the US Air Force's contracting notice raises questions about the RMP program's future, although it mentions that there are no intended changes and that the service may want to know its options before pushing through with the upgrade. Looking at the rationale behind the B-52 radar upgrade, the 2024 B-52 RMP report by the US Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) mentions that the AN/APQ-188 will improve system reliability and reduce sustainment costs, while offering new high-resolution ground-mapping to improve target location accuracy and tracking of moving targets. At the tactical level, the report says these new capabilities would allow the B-52J to perform long-range, all-weather conventional and nuclear strike operations using a variety of munitions against ground and maritime targets in a low to medium threat environment. It adds that B-52J theater-level tasks include strategic attack, time-sensitive targeting, air interdiction, close air support (CAS), suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), minelaying and nuclear deterrence. Looking at the B-52J's possible operational employment, Kris Osborn mentions in a March 2025 article for 1945 that the B-52 can function as an 'arsenal plane,' launching long-range cruise missiles, precision-guided bombs, and nuclear weapons from standoff distances. Moreover, Osborn says the B-52 can become a drone 'mothership,' launching drones to perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), targeting, or even attack missions. Still, not everyone is convinced. Andrew Latham argues in a 1945 article that despite those upgrades, the B-52J is no longer survivable against near-peer adversaries, stating that while it can operate at standoff distances launching cruise missiles, it will never again operate safely in heavily defended airspace. Latham adds that aging B-52s have become more expensive to maintain, noting that the US Air Force already struggles to keep its B-1s and B-2s in service. He notes that every dollar spent on modernizing the B-52 diverts resources from the B-21 program. He argues that even with standoff capabilities, non-stealthy bombers like the B-52 will become increasingly vulnerable as adversaries advance in hypersonic weapons, integrated air defense systems (IADS) and electronic warfare. The US bomber fleet's mission-capable rates also raise concerns about current readiness and the urgency of modernization. As of 2024, the 72-strong B-52 fleet had a Mission Capable (MC) rating of 53.77%—relatively low, but still better than the B-1 fleet at 43.44% and the B-2 fleet at 55.04%, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine. However, modernization efforts face long-term delays. A June 2024 GAO report notes that while the B-52 RMP aims for initial operating capability (IOC) by 2027, delays in the Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP) have pushed IOC for the upgraded B-52J to 2033. At the strategic level, the B-52 remains a critical asset in US Air Force Bomber Task Force (BTF) missions, which are regular and routine deployments of bombers to reassure allies and deter adversaries. The strategy leverages bombers' recallability, in which sending them toward a target signals resolve without triggering nuclear escalation. In the Pacific, Newsweek mentioned in April 2025 that the US operates B-1 bombers from Misawa Air Base in Japan, B-1s from Guam, B-52s from Naval Support Facility (NSF) Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, and B-2s from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley in Australia and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickham in Hawaii. However, there is a risk that using nuclear-capable bombers such as the B-52 in a conventional standoff strike role could trigger nuclear escalation. A November 2024 RAND report by Dahlia Goldfeld and others warns that long-range bombers like the B-52 could unintentionally provoke Chinese nuclear escalation in a Taiwan conflict. They argue that the bombers' high visibility, their deployment of dual-capable payloads such as air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) and historical patterns of US bomber use—such as high-tempo sorties during the 2003 Iraq invasion—could be interpreted by China as preparation for a decapitation or regime-change campaign. Goldfeld and others further note that when combined with deception tactics and the potential for false alarms, these signals may create the illusion of an imminent nuclear strike, prompting a preemptive Chinese response regardless of US intent. Whether the B-52J becomes a cost-effective force multiplier or an aging liability will depend not just on radar integration and budget control, but on how adversaries interpret its return to prominence in a more dangerous strategic environment.
Miami Herald
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Satellite Images Show US B-52 Bombers Deployed Near Iran
New satellite imagery showed two B-52 bombers at the U.S. Naval Support Facility at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, reinforcing Washington's long-range strike capabilities near Iran at a time that talks with the U.S. on its nuclear program have so far fallen short of a deal to avert threatened military action. Newsweek contacted U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) for comment. The United States is significantly bolstering its military presence at Diego Garcia airbase in the Indian Ocean, as it escalates pressure on Iran amid tensions over its nuclear program. President Donald Trump has said he would prefer a peaceful resolution of the nuclear dispute, but has threatened military action if it proves impossible to reach an agreement. B-52 bombers have arrived at the remote Indian Ocean outpost of Diego Garcia, joining a contingent of six B-2 stealth bombers already deployed there for weeks, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine, a military-specialized publication, and open-source intelligence analysts. The measurements of the aircraft shown by the satellite image captured Wednesday and first spotted by open-source intelligence researcher MT Anderson on X, are consistent with the dimensions of the B-52 bomber. B-2 stealth bombers and C-17 transport aircraft were deployed to the remote Indian Ocean base in March, following the launch of a U.S. air campaign against Houthi forces in Yemen that was halted on Tuesday. The increased U.S. military buildup signals heightened readiness for potential large-scale air operations in the region after multiple threats to Iran by the Trump administration over its nuclear ambitions. Nuclear talks are ongoing, but Trump has warned of "great danger" to the Islamic Republic if talks fail. Tehran says that its nuclear program is for commercial purposes only and that it does not want to build nuclear weapons, but an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Iran "will have no choice" but to seek nuclear weapons if attacked. Diego Garcia, a U.S. military outpost on British territory located over 2,000 miles from Iran, has drawn renewed strategic focus as tensions with Tehran escalate. Iranian media have also previously highlighted the remote base as a potential target in the event of conflict. Air Force deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence Lt. General Andrew J. Gebara in congressional hearing, Wednesday, as quoted by Air & Space Forces Magazine: "There's a Bomber Task Force of B-52s going on as we speak." Iranian official told The Telegraph in March: "The response to Trump's threats should be action, not words - every base in the region is within range of our missiles. The missiles are locked and loaded, ready to target any area from which Iran could be threatened, whether from Diego Garcia or Bahrain." As the date for the next U.S.-Iran nuclear talks is yet to be determined, Washington is stepping up its strategic posture to reinforce its readiness for whatever action might be needed. Related Articles US Lawmakers Look to Reinstate Nuclear Bomber ProgramRussia Sends Fighter Jets to Intercept U.S. Strategic BombersTwo U.S. B-52s Flew Near Chinese Man-Made Islands in South China Sea: Pentagon 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
F-35s From Hill AFB Arrive In England
A sizable contingent of F-35A Joint Strike Fighters from Hill Air Force Base in Utah have arrived in England. Online flight trackers followed the jets and the KC-46 Pegasus aerial tankers as they 'dragged' the fighters across the Atlantic until they arrived in England. 17:29 GOLD 73-74 flt x1 ?KC-135? & KC-46+ TABOR ?? x3? F-35/A Lightning II'sChecking in with Shanwick on 8831 khz with another Group of #F35's Bound for Lakenheath from Hill AFB #KHIFEstimating 5630N025W at 1756z And Will Freq Switch at 20W.#GOLD73: 17-46031#GOLD74: ??? — Andy (@Andyyyyrrrr) March 19, 2025 As of Thursday afternoon, 12 F-35s arrived at RAF Lakenheath, according to local plane spotter Karl O'Kane. It is unclear why those jets were sent to Lakenheath, but that base has served as a way station for flights between the U.S. and the Middle East. On March 17, Air &Space Forces Magazine reported that the U.S. Air Force was sending additional aircraft to the region. Officials from the Pentagon and several Air Force commands declined to comment about where the F-35s are headed. The U.S. military is expected to send additional aircraft to the Middle East, U.S. officials tell me. — Chris Gordon (@ByChrisGordon) March 17, 2025 While there are plenty of reasons the visiting stealth fighters could stay put in Europe, RAF Lakenheath is already home to the USAF's forward deployed F-35A contingent, hosting two squadrons. Two F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons also call the base home. If indeed they are heading to the Middle East, the jets crossed the Atlantic as the U.S. military continued to pound Houthi targets in Yemen from the air and sea in a campaign that began on March 15. There were 'four US attacks in the Al Khatib area of Al Hudaydah Governorate in Yemen' on Thursday, according to the Houthti-controlled Ansar Allah Telegram channel. U.S. Central Command declined to say when its most recent attacks took place, instead pointing to its latest message on X posted Wednesday. It included a video of F/A 18-E/F Super Hornets launching from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman bound for strike missions against the Houthis. 'CENTCOM forces continue 24/7 operations against the Iran-backed Houthis,' the command stated. CENTCOM forces continue 24/7 operations against the Iran-backed Houthis…#HouthisAreTerrorists — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 19, 2025 Earlier on Thursday, the Houthis claimed they launched another missile strike at Israel. 'The Yemeni armed forces carried out a qualitative military operation targeting Ben Gurion airport in the occupied Jaffa region with a Palestine-2 hypersonic ballistic missile,' Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said on Thursday. #Houthis Claim 'Successful' Attack On Ben Gurion Airport As #Israelis Run For Cover, Say…Yemen's Houthis claim their attack on Tel Aviv's #BenGurionAirport with hypersonic ballistic missiles was 'successful', even as they escalate attacks in the #RedSea. — Mint (@livemint) March 20, 2025 The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) disputed the result of that attack. 'Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF prior to crossing into Israeli territory,' the IDF said on Telegram. LIVE: Israel comes under ballistic missile attack by the Houthis for the second time in 24 hours. — Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) March 20, 2025 The US has asked Israel not to this attack, according to Israeli media. 'The request comes as the US has carried out widespread strikes against the Houthis in recent days,' The Times of Israel reported. 'The US told Israel to 'let them deal with it.' The latest campaign against the Houthis was ordered by President Donald Trump as the Yemen-based rebels vowed to resume their attacks on Israeli-connected vessels. The Houthis paused those strikes during the ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war that has since broken down into open conflict. On Monday, U.S. officials provided details about the initial stages of this campaign, which they acknowledge could take weeks. 'The initial wave of strikes hit over 30 targets at multiple locations, degrading a variety of Houthi capabilities,' Air Force Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich explained to reporters, including from The War Zone. 'These included terrorist training sites, unmanned aerial vehicle infrastructure, weapons manufacturing capabilities and weapons storage facilities. It also included a number of command and control centers, including a terrorist compound where we know several senior unmanned aerial vehicle experts were located. On Sunday, strike operations continued against additional headquarters locations, weapon storage facilities, as well as detection capabilities that have been used to threaten maritime shipping in the past.' CENTCOM operations against Iran-backed Houthis continue… — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 15, 2025 The Houthi shipping attacks began in November 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians over the latest war between Israel and Gaza. They have forced ships to avoid the Suez Canal for a far longer route around Africa, boosting cargo costs by nearly $200 billion. The Houthis' attacks sank two vessels, damaged many others, caused the death of four mariners, and led to many being held hostage after a ship was seized. There were also a lot of Houthi weapons that missed their targets entirely. In addition to attacking shipping, the Houthis have also fired missiles and drones at Israel. You can read more about the Houthis' arsenal in our deep dive here. After the U.S. began hitting Houthi targets in Yemen last week, the group said it has hit back. On Thursday, the Houthis claimed they attacked the Truman Carrier Strike Group for the fourth time since the latest campaign against them began. A U.S. defense official pushed back on that claim. 'Houthis continue to communicate lies and disinformation,' the official told The War Zone Thursday. 'They are well known for false claims minimizing the results of our attacks while exaggerating the successes of theirs. In fact, they have claimed to have hit our ships multiple times in the past and have even claimed to have sunk our aircraft carriers. Their messaging depends on lies.' That follows comments Grynkewich made last week after the Houthis claimed they launched 18 ballistic missiles and a drone at the strike group. 'Quite frankly, it's hard to tell' what the Houthis were targeting, Grynkewich said, 'because while we're executing precision strikes, they missed by over 100 miles. I would question anything that they claim to the press that they're doing or not doing.' All this comes as tensions between the U.S. and Iran, the Houthis' main benefactors, are increasing under Trump's 'maximum pressure' doctrine. Earlier this week, Trump sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that included a two-month deadline for reaching a new nuclear deal, Axios reported, citing sources. In 2018, Trump pulled out of an earlier nuclear weapons deal signed by former President Barack Obama. Iranians pushed back on Trump's deadline. 'We will not engage in direct negotiations under pressure, threats, or increased sanctions,' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. In a video statement released on Thursday, Khamenei criticized the attacks on the Houthi militia, warning that they should be prevented. The tensions are being exacerbated by Israel's resumption of attacks on Hamas, including air strikes and a limited ground incursion that have resulted in increasing deaths of civilians and the elimination of much of Hamas' remaining leadership. The U.S. has said the attacks on the Houthis will end once the rebel group stops launching attacks on shipping. Meanwhile, the Houthis continue to claim strikes against U.S. Navy ships. Contact the author: howard@
Asia Times
07-03-2025
- Business
- Asia Times
US eyes fighter drones to contain China's surging air power
The YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A unmanned fighter prototypes mark a seismic shift in US air combat strategy, but cost overruns, production delays and industrial constraints threaten to stall America's push for affordable mass to counter China's surging military force. This month, Air & Space Forces Magazine reported that US Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin unveiled the military's groundbreaking fighter drones at the AFA Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado. Developed by US defense contractors General Atomics and Anduril Industries, respectively, these Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) are part of the Air Force's Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) portfolio, marking a pivotal shift toward manned-unmanned teaming in aerial combat. The YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, designed to function as 'loyal wingmen,' will accompany crewed fighters like the F-35, enhancing air dominance at reduced costs and within tight timelines. Employing prototype designation codes—'Y' for prototype, 'F' for fighter, and 'Q' for unmanned—the announcement underscores a strategic evolution toward integrating semi-autonomous aircraft into contested environments. Anduril hailed the development as a transformative step in air superiority, emphasizing affordability, mass production and enhanced capabilities. General Atomics echoed this, noting the YFQ-42A's crucial role in expanding mission capacities alongside current and future aircraft. Allvin framed this innovation as essential to modernization, offering the Trump administration's Pentagon versatile options for addressing emerging global security challenges in an increasingly dangerous and dynamic era. In framing US tactical imperatives to expedite CCA development, Heather Penney mentions in an October 2022 report for the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies that CCAs increase combat mass, creating a more attrition-tolerant force that enables riskier yet more decisive operations. Penney says that by teaming with piloted aircraft, CCA can serve as decoys, missile sinks or electronic warfare platforms to disrupt enemy targeting and extend the survivability of human pilots. She adds that their autonomous features, such as AI-based threat detection and adaptable movements, improve operational agility in challenging contexts while compensating for the decline of human skills during extended combat since their performance relies on software enhancements instead of lengthy pilot training. Such attritable, semi-autonomous mass may be critical in a near-peer adversary conflict in which the US may be seriously outnumbered. In a March 2024 article for Air & Space Forces Magazine, Daniel Rice mentions that China could produce 100 J-20 airframes a year, compared to the US F-22, which the US stopped production in 2011 at just 187 irreplaceable planes. Rice says China has stepped up production of other fighter variants, producing 100 J-16s and 40 low-end J-10 fighters annually. He contrasts that with US F-35 production, pointing out that while the US produces 135 F-35s yearly, 60 to 70 planes are sold to allies. While the development of unmanned fighters has led some, such as Elon Musk, to question the utility of manned fighters, AI in this area still faces significant hurdles. In a December 2024 SOFREP article, Brigadier General Doug Wickert, commander of the 412th Test Wing, mentions that fully robotized warfare is still far off, saying it could be 'centuries' before AI pilots replace humans. Wickert says these systems are far from flawless, as shown by test flights revealing inconsistencies necessitating rigorous safety measures and fallbacks for human intervention. Moreover, the US may be facing debates regarding the direction of its CCA program. In a December 2024 National Defense Magazine article, Andrew Hunter, the US Air Force's acquisition chief, highlights trade-offs between cost and capability, emphasizing user engagement and thorough analysis. Hunter says that affordability demands sacrificing certain features, while capability enhancements require accepting higher costs. He also mentions that sustainment costs promise reductions due to limited training needs and shorter operational lifespans, but achieving balance remains crucial for future force design and industrial competition. Apart from AI limitations and debates regarding the direction of the US CCA program, cost-death spirals and constraints of the US defense industrial base may leave much to be desired in creating the affordable mass the program promises. Gregory Allen and Isaac Goldston mention in an August 2024 report for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank that the CCA program faces two significant concerns: cost escalation and production delays. Allen and Goldston point out that CCA's projected unit price has soared from US$3 million under the Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology (LCAAT) program to $25–30 million. That, they note is still 10 times cheaper than the NGAD. They also say that while the CCA program aims for 1,000 units, only 100 units are expected for delivery by 2029, which is far behind the urgent timeline suggested by intelligence assessments warning of a possible Chinese invasion or blockade of Taiwan by 2027. In line with rising costs, The War Zone (TWZ) reported in January 2025 that cost concerns loom over the second batch of CCAs, making them 20-30% more expensive than the first. While TWZ mentions that US Air Force officials have resisted the idea of acquiring 'exquisite' stealthy unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) in favor of CCAs that could be acquired in more significant numbers, affordability questions loom over major projects such as the NGAD, Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and B-21 Raider bomber fleet. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall mentioned that while the CCA should not be an exquisite platform, it is difficult to see how the US Air Force could afford any combination of NGADs, CCAs and stealthy tankers. A September 2024 US Congressional Research Service (CRS) report outlines the US defense industry's systemic challenges. The report notes that the US defense industrial base is a highly consolidated market, where a handful of large defense contractors dominate production, thus limiting competition and innovation. The CRS report points out that supply chain vulnerabilities—exacerbated by reliance on foreign sources for critical materials and components—raise concerns about resilience, particularly when the US is involved in great power competition with China and Russia. In addition, the report says workforce shortages in specialized fields, long production lead times and unpredictable procurement cycles contribute to inefficiencies. It adds that regulatory complexities and acquisition policies slow the integration of emerging technologies into defense systems. Further, this month's report by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute says that while China continues to outproduce the US, the US is stuck in a self-perpetuating cycle of budgetary and appropriations dysfunction, eroding its advantage. However, the report stresses that while those challenges are significant, they are not immutable.
