Ea-18g

[Maverick]

Just thunking about B-52 as a jamming platform, why didn't they use the B-1 instead, surely it's a little more survivable even if it's a stand-off jobby.  The remaining -52Hs have gotta be getting long in the tooth by now?

More importantly, why not a -15E based EW/Weasel bird?  Hard-kill capability, scads of stores available.  Before the F-16 came online as a weasel, I had built an F-15G for defence suppression, using the -15E airframe of the original Hasegawa demonstrator.

Mav

[Matt Wiser]

The Follow-on Wild Weasel Competition had an F-15E variant (likely designation F-15G), along with an F-16D variant with the "big spine" as seen on Israeli AF, Singapore AF, and Chilean AF birds, and the Tornado Wild Weasel. Had the Cold War gone on a few more years, there would've been a flyoff, a winner declared, and a production order placed.

The B-52's tentative phase-out is scheduled for 2040. As long as there's Buffs in AMARC for parts, the AF will keep on truckin' with the H-models. Used to be it was "Join the Air Force and fly the plane your dad flew." Now it's "Join the AF and fly the plane granddad flew."  

[Burncycle]

Just thunking about B-52 as a jamming platform, why didn't they use the B-1 instead...

Why didn't they just use a commercial platform like JSTARS / AWACS / Rivet Joint, etc?

Save the few B-52's we have left to do B-52 stuff!

The Follow-on Wild Weasel Competition had an F-15E variant (likely designation F-15G), along with an F-16D variant with the "big spine" as seen on Israeli AF, Singapore AF, and Chilean AF birds, and the Tornado Wild Weasel. Had the Cold War gone on a few more years, there would've been a flyoff, a winner declared, and a production order placed.

When they retired the F-4 wild weasel, they wanted an F-15E with AN/APR-47 so they could at the very least retain the capabilities the F-4 had. When the money wasn't there for that, they wanted an F-15E with PDF. When the money wasn't there for that, they wanted an F-15C with PDF. When the money wasn't there for that, and what little budget they had was nearly halved, they had to go with the F-16 and HTS

Ah well. It may be a third choice aircraft with a third choice system, but at least we have a lot of them, eh?

The B-52's tentative phase-out is scheduled for 2040. As long as there's Buffs in AMARC for parts, the AF will keep on truckin' with the H-models. Used to be it was "Join the Air Force and fly the plane your dad flew." Now it's "Join the AF and fly the plane granddad flew."

Ship of Theseus

[Matt Wiser]

IF it was possible, one could have B-1s retrofitted with external pylons (they originally had them for ALCMs, but were removed when the Bones were retasked from the nuclear mission) and be so wired for HARM. The Bones still would have the weapons bays free for JDAM, JSOW, and dumb bombs or LGBs.  

[anthonyp]

I just wish they made an EW version of the F-15E!

You mean like this:  B)



For Hi-res pics, click here.

And for the original thread with the Wild Eagle, click here (it's partway down the page).

[Burncycle]

I just wish they made an EW version of the F-15E!

You mean like this:  B)



For Hi-res pics, click here.

And for the original thread with the Wild Eagle, click here (it's partway down the page).

Yes!