Stratofortress news
As Rolls-Royce holds successful F130 engine Critical Design Review for future B-52J, Air Force Global Strike Command wraps up B-52H's Bomber Task Force 25-1 deployment.
On 13 December 2024, Rolls-Royce announced that they held a successful F130 engine Critical Design Review (CDR). This, clearing the way for final development, test, and production efforts to proceed and taking another step towards delivering the upgraded B-52J to the USAF.
On 26 July 2020, Scramble Magazine first wrote about the Stratofortress and what would be its tasks for the next 40 years. The F130 engine milestone is the culmination of over two years of detailed design work and close collaboration between teams from Rolls-Royce, the USAF and Boeing.
The engine testing programme is now on track and will begin altitude testing in February 2025 at the USAF Arnold Engineering Development Complex in Tullahoma (TN).
Almost simultaneously, USAF's Global Strike Command wrapped up Bomber Task Force BTF 25-1 on 13 December 2024. For five weeks four Boeing B-52H Stratofortress bombers were deployed to RAF Fairford (UK). During their time in Europe, the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron "Buccaneers" conducted a series of training missions with other USAF assets in the region and multiple countries, including Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, Italy, Norway, the UK, the Czech Republic, and Morocco.
The deployment also marked a historic milestone as two B-52Hs executed the first-ever simulated live weapons drop in Finland, showcasing enhanced interoperability with a new NATO Ally. Additionally, the bombers integrated with Lithuanian Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC), strengthening Close Air Support (CAS) readiness across the Baltic region.
The following 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB (LA) based B-52Hs were assigned to the latest 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron deployment at Fairford; 60-0008/LA 20th BS, 60-0024/LA 20th BS, 61-0010/LA (Marked as 343BS) and 61-0036/LA 96th BS.
Although BTF 25-1 is the first of the new year, the actual USAF Fiscal Year (FY) starts in October before the new year begins.
Credit photos: USAF and Rolls-Royce