B-52 PDU-5B

THE ICONIC B-52 STRATOFORTRESS COULD SOON BECOME A “LEAFLET BOMBER”

By Dario Leone
Jul 27 2017
Share this article

“The PDU-5/B is just another tool that the B-52 uses in its vast and reliable tool box,” Earl Johnson, B-52 PDU-5/B project manager

The venerable B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers could soon fulfill a new mission becoming an important tool in psychological operations (PSYOPS).

An important part of U.S. military operations overseas in fact is communicating with the local population a goal that can be achieved in a number of ways including something as simple as distributing leaflets.

In PSYOPS, leaflets with messages are often dropped from aircraft in order to reach a wide area.

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”.

According to the article B-52 testers complete leaflet bomb drops written by Kenji Thuloweit, 412th Test Wing Public Affairs, testers from the 419th Flight Test Squadron (FLTS) are looking to see if B-52 Stratofortress bombers can accomplish this task.

The unit in fact recently completed two successful sorties where a B-52 released eight PDU-5/B leaflet bombs over the Point Mugu Sea Test Range and eight more over the Precision Impact Range Area (PIRA) on Edwards Air Force Base (AFB).

“We are primarily looking to see safe separation from the external Heavy Stores Adapter Beam,” said Kevin Thorn, 419th FLTS B-52 air vehicle manager. “We are ensuring that the bombs do not contact the aircraft, and/or each other, creating an unsafe condition. Additionally we are tracking the reliability of the bomb functioning.”

Noteworthy the PDU-5/B is a new-use or variant of an older Cluster Bomb Unit (CBU). The original designation for the weapon was the MK 20 Rockeye II, SUU-76B/B, and/or CBU-99/100. The designator changes depending on the type of filler used in the bomb, said Thorn. Having leaflets as a filler designates the bomb as a PDU-5/B.

According to the Air Force, PDU-5/B canisters can deliver about 60,000 leaflets and were deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) before any U.S. Air Force (USAF) munitions began hitting targets in Baghdad, Iraq.

A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 419th Flight Test Squadron with eight PDU-5/B leaflet bombs underneath the left wing. When released from the aircraft, a fuse is set to a certain time to tell the bomb to detonate and release the leaflets.

The dispenser bomb can be dropped from helicopters and fighter jets, and now the 419th is trying to see if the B-52 fleet can be used as well.

“The PDU-5/B is just another tool that the B-52 uses in its vast and reliable tool box,” said Earl Johnson, B-52 PDU-5/B project manager. “Without the capability to carry PDU-5s on the B-52 aircraft, the impending shortfall on leaflet dispersal capability will jeopardize Air Force Central Command information operations.”

Accoding to Johnson although the testing of the PDU-5/B on the B-52 is complete for now, the program is forecasted to return at a future date to test PDU-5/B releases from the B-52’s internal weapons bay.

A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 419th Flight Test Squadron flies with eight PDU-5/B leaflet bombs connected to an external Heavy Stores Adapter Beam.

Photo credit: Christopher Okula / U.S. Air Force

Artwork courtesy of AircraftProfilePrints.com


Share this article

Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share this article


Share this article
Share this article

Always up to date! News and offers delivered directly to you!

Get the best aviation news, stories and features from The Aviation Geek Club in our newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

Error: Contact form not found.


Share this article
Back to top
My Agile Privacy
This website uses technical and profiling cookies. Clicking on "Accept" authorises all profiling cookies. Clicking on "Refuse" or the X will refuse all profiling cookies. By clicking on "Customise" you can select which profiling cookies to activate. We and our selected ad partners can store and/or access information on your device, such as cookies, unique identifiers, browsing data. You can always choose the specific purposes related to profiling by accessing the advertising preferences panel, and you can always withdraw your consent at any time by clicking on "Manage consent" at the bottom of the page.

List of some possible advertising permissions:

You can consult: our list of advertising partners, the Cookie Policy and the Privacy Policy.
Warning: some page functionalities could not work due to your privacy choices