Shifting requirements scuttled B-52 stand-off jammer: Moseley

Posted on: Apr. 6th, 2006 || Source: aimpoints.hq.af.mil | E-mail Article | Print Article

Shifting requirements scuttled the B-52 Stand-Off Jammer program and pushed its projected cost from an original estimate of roughly $1 billion up to nearly $7 billion, according to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley.

"I think you could say there were lots of people that took opportunities to have it be something other than the initial requirement," Moseley told reporters following a breakfast speech in Washington April 4. Though such efforts were well-meaning, the ultimate result argues in favor of freezing configurations early, Moseley said.

The Stand-Off Jammer (SOJ) program was aimed at giving the B-52 bomber the ability to suppress enemy air defenses through the installation of an electronic warfare pod on the aircraft. A Boeing/BAE Systems team and Northrop Grumman were expected to compete for the $236 million SOJ technology development contract before the effort was halted.

The Air Force has gone back to the original SOJ requirement to determine how to move forward, Moseley said. Options include partnering with the Navy on its EA-18G Growler program or mounting the jammer on an F-18, F-15E, or some type of unmanned aircraft.

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