2 MUNS demonstrates CALCM readiness

Airmen from the 2nd Munitions Squadron align a common strategic rotary launcher containing eight Conventional Air-Launched Cruise Missiles onto a MHU-196 Conventional Rotary Launcher during a CALCM generation exercise on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 25. Both the launcher and bomb bay have been rewired under the 1760 Internal Weapons Bay Upgrade program, allowing the B-52H Stratofortress to internally carry J-series weapons like the 2,000 pound GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition. Later increments of the program will also allow internal carriage of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles and Miniature Air-Launched Decoys. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Benjamin Gonsier)

Weapons Load Competition

Senior Airman Breyana Anderson, 96th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons loader, guides a common strategic rotary launcher under the bomb bay of a B-52H Stratofortress during a weapons load competition on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Sept. 19. Both the launcher and the bomb bay have been recently rewired as part of the 1760 Internal Weapons Bay Upgrade program, allowing the aircraft to internally carry and communicate with J-series weapons like the 2,000 pound GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jannelle Dickey)

Innovative 2nd MXG Airmen load new ideas to B-52

Airmen from the 2nd Maintenance Group weapons standardization prepare to load a strategic rotary launcher and an air launch cruise missile pylon to a B-52H Stratofortress on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 20. The 1760 Internal Weapons Bay Upgrade allows the B-52 to carry up to eight J-series weapons inside its bomb bay and 16 on external pylons for a total of 24. Later increments will also add the capability to house Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles and Miniature Air-Launched Decoys internally as well. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)

2014 Global Strike Challenge

Staff Sgt. Stefano Cothran, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load team, secures a GBU-38 to a pylon during the 2014 Global Strike Challenge on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 27. Up to eight GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions can now be carried inside the bomb bay of the B-52H Stratofortress, thanks to the 1760 Internal Weapons Bay Upgrade. The upgrade also increases the number of JDAMs that can be externally carried to 16, for a total payload increase of 100 percent. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Benjamin Gonsier)

Dyess AFB demonstrates B-1B's upgrades, combat capabilities

Airmen prepare to load a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile onto a B-1B Lancer at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, July 27. Eight AGM-158 JASSMs can now be carried inside the bomb bay of the B-52H Stratofortress in addition to the 12 that could already be carried on external pylons, thanks to the 1760 Internal Weapons Bay Upgrade. (U.S. Air Force photo)

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M.

A Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile is tested in 2005 at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The JASSM is an autonomous, conventional munition with a standoff range of more than 200 nautical miles that is designed to defeat heavily defended, high priority enemy targets deep behind enemy lines. (Courtesy photo)

First to bomb: 96th BS doubles down with 1760 Internal Weapons Bay Upgrade

Published May 23, 2016
By Senior Airman Joseph Raatz
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --

In a world of military budget constraints and tough acquisition choices, boosting the efficiency of current assets is a no-brainer.

The last B-52 Stratofortress strategic heavy bomber rolled off the assembly line in 1962. But while the airframe itself is well-seasoned, the internal components are continually upgraded to keep up with the demands of the modern battlespace. Efforts like the Military Standard 1760 Internal Weapons Bay Upgrade program aim to keep the BUFF at the forefront of U.S. power projection for decades to come. Last week, the 96th Bomb Squadron became the first operational B-52 squadron to employ this latest upgrade during a local training mission.

“The IWBU to the B-52H provides increased carriage capability for precision weapons to include the GPS-guided Joint Direct Attack Munition,” said Capt. Kenny, 96th Bomb Squadron instructor weapon systems officer. “This new capability also extends our range by reducing the amount of drag that external weapons produce.”

The JDAM is one of the Air Force’s most advanced precision-guided bombs, using GPS-assisted inertial navigation to deliver up to 2,000 pounds of high explosives with pinpoint accuracy. Currently the B-52 can carry up to 12 J-series weapons on its exterior pylons, but they cannot be carried internally due to a difference in wiring inside the bomb bay.

“JDAMs use a digital architecture in conjunction with a software component called a Stores Management Overlay to communicate with the aircraft,” Kenny said. “The B-52’s pylons have had the capability to speak to the digital systems on precisions weapons like JDAM for years, while the bomb bay remained analog and only capable of dropping unguided conventional weapons. That’s where the IWBU comes in.”

The first increment of the IWBU rewires the B-52’s internally-carried conventional rotary launcher, allowing it to house and communicate with up to eight J-series weapons. It also reconfigures the external pylons to carry up to 16 of the laser-guided JDAM variant.

“IWBU nearly doubles the number of JDAMs a single plane can carry,” said Kenny. “This gives us the option to reduce the number of aircraft required to execute a mission, lowers our fuel requirements and provides us with more flexible loadouts, enabling us to strike a wider range of target types during any given mission.”

The next increment of the program will allow the B-52 to internally carry eight Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, as well as a variety of Miniature Air-Launched Decoys. It will also give the B-52 the option of carrying up to 12 extended-range JASSM-ERs on the external pylons for a total capacity of 20 of these advanced, stealthy cruise missiles.

As the oldest bomber in the Air Force inventory, the B-52 has often been the target of replacement programs. In the 60 years since the B-52 first came onto the scene the Air Force has debuted six heavy bombers, of which only three are still flying, including the B-52 itself. The recently-announced B-21 aims to finally replace the venerable Stratofortress, but will not be fielded until the mid-2020s.

In the interim, the B-52 is projected to continue operations until at least 2040. To facilitate flying into its 90th year, the BUFF is constantly being fitted with upgraded components. The current “H” model features multi-function digital display screens, computer network servers and real-time communication uplinks with internet access.

“The B-52 has always been capable of executing a wide variety of missions,” Kenny said. “The IWBU provides more flexibility and capability in order to more effectively execute these diverse set of missions across numerous combatant commands.”