USAF General Still Sees B-52 as Likely Platform for Stand-off Jammer

Published: Feb 13, 2007
Source: www.defensenews.com



Senior U.S. Air Force brass still want to develop a system capable of jamming electronic signals emitted by enemy systems, with Gen. Ronald Keys, Air Combat Command (ACC) chief, telling DefenseNews.com the B-52 bomber is still atop the list of platforms that could carry the Core Component Jammer into hostile airspace.

“I’m inclined to think it’ll still be [installed on] a B-52 if we’re going to do something in the midterm,” the ACC chief said here Feb. 9. That’s because the Stratofortress is “a big, powerful truck — it has a lot power,” Keys said.

The latter characteristic is key, because to power the signal-jamming system, an aircraft must generate a significant amount of electricity. The B-52 fits that need, which is why the venerable bomber was chosen several years ago as the warplane on which the jammer would be fitted as part of the since-axed B-52 Stand-off Jammer program.continue..