역사 1961년 - B-52가 저고도 침투 및 전자방해를 이용해 훈련에서 NORAD 방공망을 돌파

[위종민]

1961년 NORAD에서 (모든 민항기 비행을 멈추고) 미국을 공격하는 폭격기를 전투기나 SAM으로 격추하는 훈련을 실시했는데 B-52가 저고도(500~1000피트 상공) 공격전술과 탑재된 전자방해장비를 이용해 폭격기 중 한 대도 격추되지 않고 임무를 완수했다고 합니다. 1962년, 1963년에도 훈련을 실시했고 결과는 같았다고.. B-52의 생존율을 80%까지 높일 수 있다는 레이더 교란용 디코이 4기도 발사하지 않았다고 하네요. 

찾아보니 Operation Sky Shield인 듯 합니다. 1960년, 1961년, 1962년에 대규모로 실시됐고 1964년에서 소규모 연습으로 대체됐네요. 1961년 Sky Shield II에선 대서양에 B-52 1대가 추락해 8명이 사망하기도 했네요. 영국의 벌컨 폭격기도 참가했었고.. 대규모 연습이라서 그런지 인터넷에 검색되는 자료들이 많네요. 

The exercise where B-52 crews flying at low-level penetrated NORAD without any losses (theaviationgeekclub.com)

The exercise where B-52 crews flying at low-level penetrated NORAD without any losses

• Aviation History
• Cold War Era
• Military Aviation

B-52 EWO recalls the exercise where BUFF crews flying at low-level penetrated NORAD without any losses after fooling its massive surveillance system (and they did it for three years in a row)

By Dario Leone

Nov 7 2023

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In this article:

• B-52 modified for low-level flight
• Electronic Warfare Officer
• B-52 at low-level
• Repeating the exercise with the same results

B-52 modified for low-level flight

The B-52 Stratofortress was America’s first long-range, swept-wing heavy bomber. It began as an intercontinental, high-altitude nuclear bomber, and its operational capabilities were adapted to meet changing defense needs.

B-52s have been modified for low-level flight, conventional bombing, extended-range flights and transport of improved defensive and offensive equipment — including ballistic and cruise missiles that can be launched hundreds of miles from their targets.

After it became operational in 1955, the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat F****R, as the B-52 is dubbed by its crews) remained the main long-range heavy bomber of the US Air Force during the Cold War.

Electronic Warfare Officer

But how were B-52s expected to get through Soviet air defenses to their targets?

Keith Parker, former B-52 Electronic Warfare Officer, recalls on Quora;

‘I was an EWO (Electronic Warfare Officer) on B-52Gs at Loring AFB at Limestone (close to Caribou), Maine, from late 1960 through early 1963 when I left for pilot training.

‘In 1961 we did an exercise/test where all commercial, private, and military flying in the United States was grounded for one day while SAC (Strategic Air Command) attacked the US while NORAD (North American Defense Command) did all it could to “shoot down” (simulated with real fighters, Nike-Ajax or Nike-Hercules Ground to Air Missile “lock ons”) that would score against the attacking bombers.

This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. B-52H Stratofortress 2nd BW, 20th BS, LA/60-0008 “Lucky Lady IV”. Barksdale AFB, LA

B-52 at low-level

‘We used the attack tactic of “low level” (500 to 1000 feet off of the ground) and our on-board jamming electronics to make all the NORAD radar scopes white with noise so that they could not see any of us. Without any radar returns NORAD was “blind” and could not launch any fighters or missiles.

‘The result was that NONE of the bombers were shot down and we all (100%) bombed every one of our targets. My crew’s target was Loring AFB.

Repeating the exercise with the same results

‘SAC and NORAD repeated the exercise/test in 1962 and again in 1963 with the same results. My guess was that the boys in the head shed found it hard to believe the totality of the first two tests so they had to try the third. There was no point in trying a fourth one. Also, the B-52s did not use the basket weave tactic to further confuse the radar. Nor did we launch any of the 4 quail we carried in the aft bomb bay that could fly at varying altitudes and varying headings while giving a radar return just like a B-52. This alone would increase the B-52s survival by 80%.’

Parker concludes;

‘The good news was that, in an all-out thermonuclear war, all of our bombers would reach all of the Russian and Chinese and other communist targets. The bad news was that all of their bombers would reach their targets here in the United States. It is interesting to note that our sequencing on the enemy targets was in excess of 25 nuclear weapons on each target. That would make each target nothing but melted glass.’

Photo credit: U.S. Air Force

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Operation Sky Shield - Wikipedia

Operation Sky Shield - Wikipedia

Remembering Operation Sky Shield II, October 14-15, 1961 > 142nd Wing > Article Display (af.mil)

“This Is Only a Test” | Air & Space Magazine| Smithsonian Magazine

Operation Sky Shield - Vulcan To The Sky

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1961년 벌컨의 훈련 내용입니다. https://cafe.daum.net/NTDS/515G/449