US B-52 bomber unleashes record-setting payload

Fox ^ | FEBRUARY 7, 2018

[TigerLikesRooster]

US B-52 bomber unleashes record-setting payload

FEBRUARY 7, 2018

A US Air Force B-52 bomber launched a record-setting series of strikes this week in northern Afghanistan — dropping 24 precision-guided munitions on Taliban fighting positions during 96 hours of air operations “to destroy insurgent revenue sources, training facilities, and support networks,” according to US Forces Afghanistan.

The 24 precision-guided munitions dropped by the B-52 Stratofortress are the most ever dropped by one of the Air Force’s oldest active aircraft, the service said in a press release.

Weighing 185,000 pounds, the B-52 first entered service in the 1950s during the height of the Cold War — originally designed to serve as long-range, high-altitude intercontinental nuclear bombers that could strike deep into the Soviet Union.

[TigerLikesRooster]

From U.S. Central Command:

New Air Campaign Expands to the North

Feb. 6, 2018 —
NEWS RELEASE

2018-02-06

KABUL, Afghanistan (February 6, 2018) – United States Forces-Afghanistan launched a series of precision strikes in Northern Afghanistan in a direct effort to destroy insurgent revenue sources, training facilities, and support networks.

Over the past 96 hours, U.S. forces conducted air operations to strike Taliban training facilities in Badakhshan province, preventing the planning and rehearsal of terrorist acts near the border with China and Tajikistan. The strikes also destroyed stolen Afghan National Army vehicles that were in the process of being converted to vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.

During these strikes, a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress dropped 24 precision guided munitions on Taliban fighting positions, setting a record of the most guided munitions ever dropped from a B-52. The aircraft has played a leading role in Air Force operations for decades, and was recently reconfigured with a conventional rotary launcher to increase its reach and lethality.

Continued U.S. strikes disrupt Taliban support networks in Helmand province, as well as destroy their sources of revenue such as illegal narcotics.

Ongoing strikes in Helmand continue to degrade Taliban revenue sources and safe havens. U.S. strikes and ASSF raids have resulted in the removal of more than $30 million of Taliban revenue since the campaign began in November, 2017.

"The Taliban have nowhere to hide," said General John Nicholson, commander, USFOR-A. "There will be no safe haven for any terrorist group bent on bringing harm and destruction to this country."

Over the past year, U.S. precision strikes and the efforts of the Afghan Air Force and Afghan Special Security Forces have prevented Taliban fighters from capturing Kunduz City. The Taliban continue to fail in their attempts to recapture lost territory in other areas. In 2017, the Taliban did not capture a single provincial capital, despite repeated boasts and attempts. Faced with failure on the battlefield, they have turned to targeting civilians as the only tactic they have left.

"The Taliban cannot win on the battlefield, therefore they inflict harm and suffering on innocent civilians," said Nicholson. "All they can do is kill innocent people and destroy what other people have built.”

[DAC21]

Interesting, I wonder how many bombs can be dropped simultaneously? Multiple passes? Laser guided by ground troops, gps?? Hey DOD we want video!

[DOC44]

Nice to have a President that allows the military to do what they need to do to kick butt. So glad the former traitor in chief is out and being harder to hear anything about day by day. or is that the enemy in chief.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Well, it seems that they are testing many things which can be useful for attacks on N. Korea if it comes to that.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Watch “12 Strong” to see B-52 strikes on the ground.

[lefty-lie-spy]

Maybe a couple of these, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_Ordnance_Penetrator, they certainly are heavy. Man, 24 of these things going off around you could really ruin your weekend.

[fso301]

to destroy insurgent revenue sources

I assumed a crop duster would do that.

[Reno89519]

Test it on Mecca and anywhere Islam congregates.

[SamAdams76]

I just saw "12 Strong" and rather blown away that it was based on a true story. I do vaguely remember hearing about U.S. special forces on horseback in Afghanistan, working with the Northern Alliance and directing airstrikes against the Taliban. But this never seemed to be covered much in the media at the time. I researched some of the facts after the movie and it's pretty much true to what happened. Amazing.

There's a statue of a soldier on horseback at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan commemorating this operation. Must have walked right past it a dozen times.

I'm going back.

[Psalm 73]

"A US Air Force B-52 bomber launched a record-setting series of strikes this week...."

The same week an American company launches a sports car into space - we're Americans - we can do freaking anything!!

[jimbug]

Can somebody school me on this: why haven't we taken out the poppy fields and taught these farmers how to raise something else like goats or sheep?

They LIKE goats and sheep---right?

[abb]

Indeed.

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=43130

Ronald Reagan
Inaugural Address
January 20, 1981

“And after all, why shouldn’t we believe that? We are Americans.”

[Doogle]

Here ya go...
https://youtu.be/pQOdGE-i-78

[tom paine 2]

Pakistan is right next door.

[Lurker]

“why haven’t we taken out the poppy fields...”

The CIA has to get their off the books money from somewhere.

L

[HighSierra5]

The article didn’t say where the B-52 took off from as far as I could read. Strangely, I did see a B-52 being refueled by a KC-10 at about 20,000 ft above my house in the southern Sierras a few days ago. I don’t know where it was from or if it was a training mission out of Edwards or China Lake. There’s always something flying around like the time I saw B-25 flying in formation with a U-2. No UFOS yet.

[Doogle]

Looks like 750’s internal... 500’s external mer’s& ter’s 12&12

[trebb]

The Buff is the Model 1911 of aircraft.....all these years and it still keeps giving.....

[norwaypinesavage]

"I wonder how many bombs can be dropped simultaneously?"

I remember pictures from the Vietnam War showing them dropping a full load, though they would roll out one at a time. They would land in a line along the flight path with not a lot of safe space between each one.

Precision guided bombs can be steered a bit, though they have a very steep glide slope. They must be dropped somewhat directly over the target, considering wind and initial airplane path. They are VERY accurate. During the Gulf Wars, cement bombs (no explosives) were sometimes used to take out tanks nestled between civilian buildings.

This makes me think that they would be dropped one at a time, or in small groups.

[norwaypinesavage]

"I assumed a crop duster would do that."

A crop duster can be taken out with a well aimed .22. A B-52 can operate from 10 miles altitude. You can't even see it from the ground. Your first clue it's there is the precision guided bomb coming down your chimney.