{"id":48151,"date":"2017-10-23T05:08:31","date_gmt":"2017-10-23T05:08:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=48151"},"modified":"2017-10-23T05:08:31","modified_gmt":"2017-10-23T05:08:31","slug":"air-force-preparing-b-52-bombers-for-24-hour-alert-status-official-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/news\/air-force-preparing-b-52-bombers-for-24-hour-alert-status-official-says.html","title":{"rendered":"Air Force preparing B-52 bombers for 24-hour alert status, official says"},"content":{"rendered":"

Air Force preparing B-52 bombers for 24-hour alert status, official says<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Air Force preparing B-52 bombers for 24-hour alert status, official says:- The U.S. Air Force is preparing to place its fleet of nuclear-armed B-52 bombers on 24-hour alert for the first time since 1991 amid escalating tensions with North Korea, the military branch’s chief of staff said in a report Sunday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Defense officials denied to Fox News that bombers were ordered to go on 24-hour alert, but Gen. David Goldfein told Defense One it could happen.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is yet one more step in ensuring that we\u2019re prepared,\u201d Goldfein said. \u201cI look at it more as not planning for any specific event, but more for the reality of the global situation we find ourselves in and how we ensure we\u2019re prepared going forward.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Goldfein noted that in a world where \u201cwe\u2019ve got folks that are talking openly about use of nuclear weapons,\u201d it\u2019s important to remain alert and think of new ways to be prepared.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s no longer a bipolar world where it\u2019s just us and the Soviet Union. We\u2019ve got other players out there who have nuclear capability. It\u2019s never been more important to make sure that we get this mission right,\u201d Goldfein added.<\/span><\/p>\n

Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, home of the 2d Bomb Wing and Air Force Global Strike Command, which manages the service\u2019s nuclear services, is being renovated, Defense One reported, so that B-52s would be ready to \u201ctake off at a moment\u2019s notice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The B-52, which can fly up to about 50,000 feet and at supersonic speeds, has the ability to release a variety of weapons, including cluster bombs, gravity bombs and precision guided missiles.<\/span><\/p>\n

The long-range bomber can also unleash both nuclear and precision-guided conventional ordnance.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 24-hour alert status for B-52s ended in 1991, in the waning days of the Cold War.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-\u00a0http:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/2017\/10\/22\/air-force-preparing-b-52-bombers-for-24-hour-alert-status-official-says.html<\/span><\/p>\n

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