Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share E42 – B-52 BUFF modernization
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
E42 – B-52 BUFF modernization
Don’t miss our newsletter! That's where we drop weekly knowledge bombs to help you make sense of defense!
Mike hosts Col. Joseph Little, callsign “Little Joe,” to discuss how the US Air Force is modernizing the legendary B-52 BUFF to keep it flying into the 2050s—100 years after its first flight.
Col Little is a B-52 Weapons Systems Officer, a US Air Force Weapons School graduate, a former test squadron commander, and currently serving as the Detachment 5 Commander of the Air Force Operational Test and
Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), where he oversees the B-52J program.
The B-52J modernization program is a $48 Billion
transformation designed to extend the bomber's life into the 2060s. It includes new engines, advanced cockpits, upgraded radar, and more, making it the most
significant overhaul in the aircraft's history.
This episode covers not just the tech but also tactics,
weapons, historical milestones, and untold war stories. Whether you're a fan of military aviation or interested in strategic operations, this insider’s look at the B-52 is a must-listen!
For those interested in #military #nationaldefense #warfare #nationalsecurity #defense #nationaldefense #tech #technology #defensetech #army #navy #airforce #innovation #b52 #BUFF #bomber #aviation #airplanes #aerospace
Links
• Sign up for our amazing newsletter!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Mike Benitez (LinkedIn)
• Joseph Little (LinkedIn)
• AFOTEC, Det 5 (LinkedIn)
----
Follow us on...
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• X
• Facebook
• Website
----
Show Notes
00:49 intro
03:24 yesterday vs today
04:57 B-52 in 2024
05:17 changing the crew roles
05:53 bombardier wings
06:12 The youngest oldest B-52s
08:04 BUFF origins
08:39 Orange BUFF
10:14 test units
11:13 test lessons from Vietnam
13:32 B-52 modernization
14:40 the B-52J
16:18 radar upgrade
21:15 quad crew concept
23:29 Fox-4 kill
24:30 new engines - why 8?
28:22 fixing the tanker bill
28:46 Iraqi Freedom tankers
30:10 engine nacelle issues
32:20 testing validated the model
33:05 rest of the engine mods
35:10 alert start requirements
36:21 cockpit upgrades
38:15 BUFF legacy - James Earl Jones
39:01 culture and change
42:49 the nuke consideration
43:29 AEHF radio upgrade
44:50 B-52 nose job?
46:54 Story 1 - aerial mining
48:44 Story 2 - CBU-105 combat drop
52:05 brakes?
52:51 outro
View all episodes
By The Merge
5
352352 ratings
Don’t miss our newsletter! That's where we drop weekly knowledge bombs to help you make sense of defense!
Mike hosts Col. Joseph Little, callsign “Little Joe,” to discuss how the US Air Force is modernizing the legendary B-52 BUFF to keep it flying into the 2050s—100 years after its first flight.
Col Little is a B-52 Weapons Systems Officer, a US Air Force Weapons School graduate, a former test squadron commander, and currently serving as the Detachment 5 Commander of the Air Force Operational Test and
Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), where he oversees the B-52J program.
The B-52J modernization program is a $48 Billion
transformation designed to extend the bomber's life into the 2060s. It includes new engines, advanced cockpits, upgraded radar, and more, making it the most
significant overhaul in the aircraft's history.
This episode covers not just the tech but also tactics,
weapons, historical milestones, and untold war stories. Whether you're a fan of military aviation or interested in strategic operations, this insider’s look at the B-52 is a must-listen!
For those interested in #military #nationaldefense #warfare #nationalsecurity #defense #nationaldefense #tech #technology #defensetech #army #navy #airforce #innovation #b52 #BUFF #bomber #aviation #airplanes #aerospace
Links
• Sign up for our amazing newsletter!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Mike Benitez (LinkedIn)
• Joseph Little (LinkedIn)
• AFOTEC, Det 5 (LinkedIn)
----
Follow us on...
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• X
• Facebook
• Website
----
Show Notes
00:49 intro
03:24 yesterday vs today
04:57 B-52 in 2024
05:17 changing the crew roles
05:53 bombardier wings
06:12 The youngest oldest B-52s
08:04 BUFF origins
08:39 Orange BUFF
10:14 test units
11:13 test lessons from Vietnam
13:32 B-52 modernization
14:40 the B-52J
16:18 radar upgrade
21:15 quad crew concept
23:29 Fox-4 kill
24:30 new engines - why 8?
28:22 fixing the tanker bill
28:46 Iraqi Freedom tankers
30:10 engine nacelle issues
32:20 testing validated the model
33:05 rest of the engine mods
35:10 alert start requirements
36:21 cockpit upgrades
38:15 BUFF legacy - James Earl Jones
39:01 culture and change
42:49 the nuke consideration
43:29 AEHF radio upgrade
44:50 B-52 nose job?
46:54 Story 1 - aerial mining
48:44 Story 2 - CBU-105 combat drop
52:05 brakes?
52:51 outro
More shows like The Merge
View all
Airplane Geeks Podcast
403 Listeners
War on the Rocks
1,070 Listeners
Aviation Week's Check 6 Podcast
396 Listeners
Modern War Institute
777 Listeners
Aircrew Interview
89 Listeners
Fighter Pilot Podcast
1,873 Listeners
Net Assessment
424 Listeners
The Afterburn Podcast
925 Listeners
10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit
176 Listeners
Irregular Warfare Podcast
409 Listeners
Combat Story
1,282 Listeners
The Aerospace Advantage
103 Listeners
School of War
504 Listeners
The President's Daily Brief
3,389 Listeners
NatSec Matters
267 Listeners