DefenceTalkTinker AFB Airmen will update ground maintenance and mission planning software in support of a new Air Force contract that will increase the B-52 Stratofortress’s “smart-weapons” capacity by 50 percent. The $24.6 million agreement stipulates that Boeing will develop a modification to existing weapon launchers so the aircraft can carry smart weapons in the bomb […]https://www.defencetalk.com/b-52-upgrade-to-increase-smart-weapons-capacity-50051/

DefenceTalkBoeing and Lockheed Martin said Friday they have teamed up to bid for a new $55 billion US Air Force bomber program aimed at replacing the aging bomber fleet. Boeing is acting as the prime contractor, and Lockheed is the main teammate in the bid to supply the Air Force’s Long-Range Strike Bomber program, the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-lockheed-team-up-for-new-us-air-force-bomber-49490/

DefenceTalkThe transfer ceremony of another batch of the serial Su-34 front-line bombers to the Russian Air Force was held today at the Novosibirsk branch of the Sukhoi Company — V.P. Chkalov Novosibirsk aircraft plant (NAZ). The aircraft took off and headed to the place of their deployment. Several Su-34s of the 2013 State Defense Order […]https://www.defencetalk.com/sukhoi-delivers-su-34-front-line-bombers-to-the-russian-air-force-49468/

DefenceTalkA B-1B Lancer successfully struck a waterborne target with a live warhead for the first time Aug. 27. The 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron completed their first of three scheduled live-fire tests of a Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, or LRASM, on-board a B-1. The mission sought to evaluate the separation of the missile from the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/b-1-conducts-first-live-fire-test-of-anti-ship-missile-49243/

DefenceTalkBARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE: The B-52 Stratofortress is set to receive an upgrade that will significantly increase its weapons payload, officials said. The initial 1760 Internal Weapons Bay Upgrade will allow the B-52 to house up to eight advanced precision-guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions in its internal weapons bay, in addition to the 12 it […]https://www.defencetalk.com/upgrade-gives-b-52-bomber-more-teeth-49162/

DefenceTalkThe B-52 Stratofortress will soon receive a software upgrade that will keep the aircraft at the forefront of the U.S. strategic bomber fleet. As new equipment and advanced weapons are added to the B-52 fleet, the B-52 Software Block (BSB) upgrades allow the aircraft to utilize the full potential of those new and improved systems. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/software-update-keeps-b-52-at-forefront-of-bomber-fleet-49120/

DefenceTalkA B-1B bomber out of South Dakota’s Ellsworth Air Force Base crashed in a remote area of southeastern Montana on Monday but the four crew members survived, Air Force officials said. The two pilots and two weapons system officers ejected from the aircraft before the bomber crashed near Broadus, Mont., said Col. Kevin Kennedy, commander […]https://www.defencetalk.com/b-1-bomber-out-of-sd-crashes-in-mont-crew-ejects-48793/

DefenceTalkThe Air National Guard celebrated a historic milestone this week as the 131st Bomb Wing, the nation’s only Guard unit to fly and maintain the B-2 Spirit, was certified to conduct the nuclear mission upon completion of their initial nuclear surety inspection. With this certification, the 131st BW reached full operational capability with the B-2, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-ang-bomb-wing-certified-for-nuclear-operations-48695/

DefenceTalkDYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas: The 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron successfully completed their first captive carry test of a Long Range Anti-Ship Missile on-board a B-1 Bomber June 17, marking a significant step forward toward the B-1’s role in the maritime environment. Designed and developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/b-1-test-squadron-demonstrates-anti-ship-missile-48501/

DefenceTalkThe ceremony of transfer of the serial Su-34 front-line bombers to the Russian Air Force was held today at the Novosibirsk branch of the Sukhoi Company – V.P. Chkalov Novosibirsk aircraft plant (NAZ). Three aircraft took off and headed to the place of their deployment. The first aircraft of the 2013 State Defense Order was […]https://www.defencetalk.com/sukhoi-delivers-su-34-bombers-to-russian-air-force-48340/