Military.com reported that the B-52 used its conventional rotary launcher in combat on Nov. 18. This mission was in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (Iraq).
A U.S. B-52 Bomber sits on a flightline with munitions loaded on a newly installed conventional rotary launcher in its bomb bay, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Nov. 17, 2017. The CRL will allow the B-52 to carry more smart bombs . The CRL upgrade was used in support of a new offensive campaign in Afghanistan Nov. 19, 2017. Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and United States Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A) launched a series of ongoing attacks to hit the Taliban where they are most vulnerable: their revenue streams. Together, Afghan and U.S. forces conducted combined operations to strike drug labs and command-and-control nodes in northern Helmand province. These types of strikes represent the highest level of trust and cooperation between ANDSF and USFOR-A. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Patrick Evenson)
During another mission over Afghanistan, a B-52 set the record for the largest number of precision munitions employed.
One thought on “B-52’s new conventional rotary launcher has seen combat”
Amusing to see the sticker in the B-52H’s bomb bay referring to ‘AGM-69A dust cap and plug storage,’ almost 25 years after the SRAM’s retirement. I’m sure there’s another sticker relating to the Quail in there somewhere.
Amusing to see the sticker in the B-52H’s bomb bay referring to ‘AGM-69A dust cap and plug storage,’ almost 25 years after the SRAM’s retirement. I’m sure there’s another sticker relating to the Quail in there somewhere.