After several months of training for their nuclear mission, B-52H crews from Minot AFB, N.D., recently practiced the bomber’s conventional strike role by dropping live cluster bombs during a night training sortie over the Nevada Test and Training Range. “There is no better way to demonstrate your proficiency and build confidence in your capabilities than to go out and drop live weapons on the range,” said Lt. Col. Brandon Parker, 23rd Bomb Squadron commander, in a Feb. 14 release. The 23rd BS crew dropped both unguided CBU-87B combined effects munitions and the GPS-guided CBU-103 wind corrected munitions dispensers during a Feb. 11 night training sortie. “The CBU-103 was a direct hit,” said Capt. Michael Devita, 23rd BS weapons and tactics flight commander. “We don’t get a lot of opportunities like this. We only get to drop about two of these munitions per year,” he added.
USAF Scoping Out Upgrades to Counter-UAS Weapons
Oct. 19, 2020
The Air Force is in the market for upgrades to its counter-drone technologies, according to an Oct. 16 request for information posted on a federal contracting website. The service is in the early stages of deploying lasers, microwaves, and other weapons more advanced than a shotgun to deal with potentially…