A US Air Force B-52 bomber in 1957. Photo AP 1. 1956: The B-47 disappears with two nuclear “capsules” The first story on the list is also one of the most mysterious because nothing like the wreckage of a plane, a weapon or a crew has been found. A B-47 Stratojet bomber with two nuclear weapons took off from MacDill Air Force Base, Florida on March 10, 1956, towards Morocco. It was scheduled for two aerial refuels but did not show up at the second refuel point. An international search team was dispatched to search but found nothing. The US military had finally stopped searching. 2. 1958: Nuclear bomber damaged near Tybee Island, Georgia On February 5, 1958, the B-47 bomber left Florida with nuclear weapons on a training mission to simulate the bombing of a Russian city and evade the subsequent interceptor missiles. On the Georgia coast, bombers and interceptors (red troops) collided. The interceptor pilot parachutes, the bomber crew tries to lower the same bomb but fails. They dropped bombs into the sea before they landed safely. Because the plutonium pores were changed to lead holes during training, the missing bomb had only uranium-235 mass below the threshold and could not cause a nuclear explosion. 3. 1961: Two nuclear bombs nearly turn North Carolina into a bay On January 24, 1961, a B-52 carrying two Mark 39 bombs, each 253 times more powerful than the one Little Boy dropped on Hiroshima, shattered in a storm and released two bombs. A pilot who survived the accident warned the US Air Force of the incident. The first bomb was found hanging from a tree with a parachute, upright, nose plunged close to the ground. It went through six of the seven steps needed to explode. Fortunately, the safety switch, due to the malfunction, was in place and the bomb “landed safely”. “Now you can have a very large North Carolina Gulf if that goes away,” said Jack Revelle, who was in charge of locating and removing the two bombs. The bomb’s switch has changed to ‘weapon’ mode, but for whatever reason no one knows, it still cannot explode, saving tens of thousands of lives. 4. 1965: Loss of naval aircraft, pilot and B43 nuclear bomb A US Navy A-4 Skyhawk was being carried aboard the USS Ticonderoga during a December 5, 1965 exercise when it slipped off the lift floor while on board a pilot and a nuclear bomb B43. The plane quickly sank 5,300 meters deep. The status of this bomb is still unknown. The pressure at that depth would have been enough to detonate the weapon and the water was so deep that it would be difficult to detect. If the weapon was still intact, it would be nearly impossible to find because very few submarines were able to reach that depth. 5. 1966: Aircraft -52 crashes into KC-135, four thermonuclear bombs are dropped on Spain On January 17, 1966, a B-52 was approaching an KC-135 to refuel when a collision occurred, causing the KC-135 crew and 3 people on the B-52. network. B-52s and 4 B28 thermonuclear bombs fell near a small fishing village in Palomares, Spain. Three bombs were found in the first 24 hours after the crash. One landed safely while the other two exploded but with conventional explosives. The explosions burned and dispersed the plutonium in the bomb, contaminating an area of ​​two square kilometers. The fourth bomb fell into the sea. It took the US Navy almost 100 days to locate and recall it. 6. 1968: The B-52 crashes and a nuclear weapon is lost under the Arctic ice Like the Palomares crash, the January 21 crash of a B-52 resulted in four B28 bombs being released. This time they fell over Greenland and at least three of the bombs were broken. Investigators recovered most of these ingredients before realizing they could find nothing of the fourth bomb. The recovery team speculates that the bomb started burning after the crash and thawed. The remains of the bomb then fell to the bottom of the Arctic sea. The weapon is missing, said to be irrevocable. 7. 1968: The sinking of the USS Scorpion USS Scorpion, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, was declared missing on June 5, 1968. The loss was especially difficult for the US Navy, as the ship followed a Russian research group just before disappearing. At the time of his disappearance, the Scorpion was carrying two Mark 45 anti-submarine torpedoes (ASTOR). It was not until October 1968 that the debris was found. The USS Scorpion is located on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean at a depth of 3,000 meters and the cause of the sinking is unknown. The torpedo compartment appears to be intact with two nuclear torpedoes, but the US Navy cannot say for sure. Retrieving torpedoes will be extremely difficult, so the US Navy will monitor radiation levels in the area. So far, there has been no sign of leakage from a torpedo or reactor, according to the statement of the US Navy.

A US Air Force B-52 bomber in 1957. Photo AP 1. 1956: The B-47 disappears with two nuclear “capsules” The first story on the list is also one of the most mysterious because nothing like the wreckage of a plane, a weapon or a crew has been found. A B-47 Stratojet bomber with two nuclear weapons took off from MacDill Air Force Base, Florida on March 10, 1956, towards Morocco. It was scheduled for two aerial refuels but did not show up at the second refuel point. An international search team was dispatched to search but found nothing. The US military had finally stopped searching. 2. 1958: Nuclear bomber damaged near Tybee Island, Georgia On February 5, 1958, the B-47 bomber left Florida with nuclear weapons on a training mission to simulate the bombing of a Russian city and evade the subsequent interceptor missiles. On the Georgia coast, bombers and interceptors (red troops) collided. The interceptor pilot parachutes, the bomber crew tries to lower the same bomb but fails. They dropped bombs into the sea before they landed safely. Because the plutonium pores were changed to lead holes during training, the missing bomb had only uranium-235 mass below the threshold and could not cause a nuclear explosion. 3. 1961: Two nuclear bombs nearly turn North Carolina into a bay On January 24, 1961, a B-52 carrying two Mark 39 bombs, each 253 times more powerful than the one Little Boy dropped on Hiroshima, shattered in a storm and released two bombs. A pilot who survived the crash warned the US Air Force of the incident. The first bomb was found hanging from a tree with a parachute, upright, nose plunged close to the ground. It went through six of the seven steps needed to explode. Fortunately, the safety switch, due to the malfunction, was in place and the bomb “landed safely”. “Now you can have a very large North Carolina Gulf if that goes away,” said Jack Revelle, who was in charge of locating and removing the two bombs. The bomb’s switch has changed to ‘weapon’ mode, but for whatever reason no one knows, it still cannot explode, saving tens of thousands of lives. 4. 1965: Loss of naval aircraft, pilot and B43 nuclear bomb A US Navy A-4 Skyhawk was being carried aboard the USS Ticonderoga during a December 5, 1965 exercise when it slipped off the lift floor while on board a pilot and a nuclear bomb B43. The plane quickly sank 5,300 meters deep. The status of this bomb is still unknown. The pressure at that depth would have been enough to detonate the weapon and the water was so deep that it would be difficult to detect. If the weapon was still intact, it would be nearly impossible to find because very few submarines were able to reach that depth. 5. 1966: Aircraft -52 crashes into KC-135, four thermonuclear bombs are dropped on Spain On January 17, 1966, a B-52 was approaching an KC-135 to refuel when a collision occurred, causing the KC-135 crew and 3 people on the B-52. network. B-52s and 4 B28 thermonuclear bombs fell near a small fishing village in Palomares, Spain. Three bombs were found within the first 24 hours after the crash. One landed safely while the other two exploded but with conventional explosives. The explosions burned and dispersed the plutonium in the bomb, contaminating an area of ​​two square kilometers. The fourth bomb fell into the sea. It took the US Navy almost 100 days to locate and recall it. 6. 1968: The B-52 crashes and a nuclear weapon is lost under the Arctic ice Like the Palomares crash, the January 21 crash of a B-52 resulted in four B28 bombs being released. This time they fell over Greenland and at least three of the bombs were broken. Investigators recovered most of these ingredients before realizing they could find nothing of the fourth bomb. The recovery team speculates that the bomb started burning after the crash and thawed. The remains of the bomb then fell to the bottom of the Arctic sea. The weapon is missing, said to be irrevocable. 7. 1968: The sinking of the USS Scorpion USS Scorpion, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, was declared missing on June 5, 1968. The loss was especially difficult for the US Navy, as the ship followed a Russian research group just before disappearing. At the time of his disappearance, the Scorpion was carrying two Mark 45 anti-submarine torpedoes (ASTOR). It was not until October 1968 that the debris was found. The USS Scorpion is located on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean at a depth of 3,000 meters and the cause of the sinking is unknown. The torpedo compartment appears to be intact with two nuclear torpedoes, but the US Navy cannot say for sure. Retrieving torpedoes will be extremely difficult, so the US Navy will monitor radiation levels in the area. So far, there has been no sign of leakage from a torpedo or reactor, according to the statement of the US Navy.

Aircraft B-47. Photo: US Air Force According to Business Insider, the loss of the first nuclear weapon by the US military is also one of the most mysterious. On March 10, 1956, a B-47 Stratojet strategic bomber carrying two nuclear warheads took off from MacDill Air Base, Florida to Morocco. As planned, it was given aerial refueling twice. However, this strafe disappeared, no second refueling. The international team of experts was unable to find any trace of the B-47, whether it be debris, weapons or crew. In the end, the US military decided to stop searching. 2. In 1958: The plane was damaged, bombed into the sea On May 2, 1958, B-47 bombers with nuclear weapons left Florida to participate in drills for mocking a Soviet city and dealing with enemy interceptors. . In the sky off Georgia state, a B-47 accidentally collided with an interceptor and suffered certain damage. The interceptor pilot jumps out, while the B-47 pilot wants to land with the bomb but cannot. They bombed the ocean near Tyree Island and landed safely. Because engineers changed plutonium to lead for training purposes, the missing bomb had a subcritical uranium-235 mass and could not detonate the nucleus. 3. 1961: Two nuclear bombs almost turn North Carolina into a “gulf”. Aircraft B-52. Photo: AP On January 24, 1961, a B-2 aircraft carrying two Mark 39 bombs was attacked by a storm and both bombs dropped. Each of these is 253 times more powerful than the Little Boy that the US threw at Hiroshima, Japan. The pilot, a survivor of the accident, promptly warned the US Air Force about this dreadful incident. The first bomb was found in a parachute, suspended in a tree, nose pointed straight to the ground. It went through 6 out of 7 steps needed to explode. Fortunately, its safety was in place and the Mark 39 landed safely. “Now you will have a very large North Carolina Gulf area if that bomb goes off,” said Jack Revelle, who is in charge of locating and disarming. While the other bomb’s safety switch did not return to the correct position, no one could understand why it did not explode, saving tens of thousands of lives. 4. 1965: The unfortunate plane crashed into the sea On December 5, 1965, a US Navy A-4 Skyhawk bomber was moving aboard the USS Ticonderoga to prepare for the exercise when an incident occurred. It deviates from the tow ladder with a pre-loaded pilot and a B43 nuclear weapon. The plane quickly submerged 5km below sea level. The status of this weapon has yet to be determined. The pressure at that depth would have been strong enough to detonate the B43 bomb, when it was difficult to find its location. If the bomb was still intact, the likelihood of finding it was rare as very few ships could have dived to such depths. 5. In 1966: B-52 hit KC-135, 4 thermonuclear bombs exploded over Spain An American soldier inspects the materials after the plane crash. Photo: AP On January 17, 2016, a B-52 “flying fortress” was approaching an aircraft carrying KC-135 fuel to perform aerial refueling when a collision occurred. The incident sparked a fireball, killing the crew of KC-135 and three people on the B-52. The B-52 and four B28 thermonuclear bombs crashed into a small fishing house in Palomares, Spain. Three bombs were found in the first 24 hours after the accident. One ball landed safely while two had their conventional explosive parts detonated. The explosions ignited and dispersed the plutonium in the rockets, poisoning the air within two square kilometers. The fourth bomb seen by a fisherman fell into the sea. Despite the eyewitness accounts, it took the US Navy almost 100 days to locate and retrieve the weapon. 6. 1968: Falling the B-52, the weapon disappears under the ice Like the Palomares accident, on January 21, 1968, a crashed B-52 dropped four B28 bombs from the air. This time, it was bombed in Greenland. At least three were shattered. With most of the debris collected, investigators found they did not find any fragments of the fourth bomb. Then, they discovered a piece of ice with a black object identified the bomb’s parachute string. They speculate that in the early or secondary phase, the B28 started burning after the collision and thawed. The remnants of the bomb then plunged through the arctic waters and sank. This weapon is still missing, is said to be irrevocable. 7. 1968: The sinking of the USS Scorpion The USS Scorpion. Photo:; US Navy Nuclear attack submarine USS Scorpion was declared missing on 5/6/1968. The loss was especially difficult for the US Navy because the ship followed a Russian team just before it disappeared. At the time of her disappearance, Scorpion was carrying two Mark 45 anti-submarine torpedoes (ASTOR). The debris was not found until four months later. The Scorpion remains on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean at a depth of 3,000 meters. The cause of the ship sinking has not been determined. Its torpedo compartment appears to be intact with two nuclear torpedoes in place. Retrieving torpedoes will be extremely difficult. Therefore, the US Navy will need to monitor radiation levels in the area. So far, there has been no sign of leakage from the submarine’s torpedoes or reactors.

PAK DA designs developed by Tupolev Office of Russia. Photo: Ministry of Defense of Russia In early April, the Russian Ministry of Defense approved the final design for the sixth-generation stealth bomber, called the “Modern Long Range Aviation Complex” (identified as in Russian is PAK DA). This aircraft designed and developed by the Tupolev Office places priority on stealth and long-range weapon use. Currently, the office is building a full-size, full-scale PAK DA prototype aircraft. PAK DA is designed based on the aerodynamic principle of “flying wings”, without the tail part, the fuel tank is separated from the wing, can reach subsonic speeds of 1,190 km / h. The PAK DA is expected to replace the Tu-160 strategic bomber developed in the Soviet era. The new Russian aircraft model uses the latest stealth technology, alloys and synthetic materials. The main weapon system equipped on the PAK DA includes long-range cruise missiles and supersonic missiles using modern technology, capable of escaping enemy radar. According to a professor at the Russian Military Science Academy Vadim Kozulin, all the equipment on board is automated at the highest level. Engineers are testing operating the PAK DA in unmanned mode. In addition, this latest generation Russian bomber is said to have the control feature of other groups of unmanned aircraft (UAVs). The highlight of the PAK DA design is the priority in stealth technology, combined with the tactic of using long-range weapons. “The Russian Air Force is currently armed with long-range missiles such as the X-555 and X-101 with a range of up to 5,000 km, which is why there is no need to use traditional long-range bombers. can carry out attacks without leaving the Russian border, still within the defense of the air defense system, “said Mr. Kozulin. The PAK DA is expected to enter service in the Russian army by 2027. The minimum lifespan of this strategic bomber is not less than 12 years. After technical maintenance, can increase the operating life up to 21 years.

An H-6K off Taiwan in 2016.

On March 26, 20 Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLAAF) fighters departed from mainland China and approached Taiwan on two axes.

While most of Taiwan’s defense exploration aircraft were in the southwestern part of the island, four H-6K cruise missile bombers and one Y-8 support aircraft continued to fly towards Southeast through the Ba Si Strait separating Taiwan from the Philippines and then turns north, to an area in Taiwan’s eastern international airspace.

In other words, PLAAF bombers have surrounded Taiwan – a move that flyers Global Times China’s considered capable of deciding during wartime. “From that position, the PLA could not only attack military facilities on the eastern side of the island, but block the island completely.”

But it is far from concluded that the PLAAF can easily do this in combat. First, enemies – Taiwanese and American forces with missile batteries, air defense fighters and missile warships – must be taken into account.

Second, it is not clear whether PLAAF crews possess the skills and support necessary to reliably and safely fly thousands of kilometers across the vast Pacific Ocean.

Land combat was difficult. Air combat on the ocean is even more difficult. On the water, navigation, communication, and coordination – not to mention effective combat with an experienced, high-tech enemy – have been a big deal.

“Although the PLAAF is increasing the number of flights at sea, they acknowledge the challenges associated with training to fly in the far seas,” authors Kenneth Allen and Cristina Garafola wrote in a survey. newly funded by the US Air Force in terms of the history and organization of the Chinese Air Force.

Allen and Garafola cited a 2017 interview. Chinese pilots from the PLAAF’s Southern Command have discussed some of the issues their air force is trying to solve to improve their capabilities. combat ability in “far sea”.

Communication stories at the top of the list. “Due to limited communication measures during long-distance training, comprehensive support measures – including regular radars, command and air communications aircraft, naval ships and satellites communication – needs to be better integrated, ”writes Allen and Garafola.

They continued, “Compared to flying on land, training at sea is more likely to deviate from the designed flight path.” High-difficulty subjects related to offshore training pose new challenges to the technical and tactical abilities of many pilots. These subjects include attacking sea targets, aerial combat against different types of aircraft on land and water, aerial refueling and combat with enemy navies.

In particular, on physical challenges, flight times longer than four hours often lead to pilot fatigue.

Weather conditions during marine training are unpredictable – and gathering weather related data remains a challenge.

Long-distance search and rescue operations remain a challenging task for the PLAAF due to limited search and rescue equipment, low night vision and complex weather conditions. trash.

Long-distance flight training continues to challenge PLAAF’s maintenance assistance capabilities. Many incidents related to maritime cannot just take the option on land but apply it.

The PLAAF knows that they have water problems. “The high seas drills will become part of regular training,” said Dinh Lai Hang, a PLAAF lieutenant general, in 2017.

The PLAAF is “gradually expanding its long-distance training operations. Weapons, equipment, communications systems, supplies and aviation search and rescue skills have to keep up with mission requirements, ”added General Dinh.

The fact that the Chinese air force safely conducted sky missions near Taiwan in March could be a hint that its sea flight training efforts are beginning to succeed.

Of course, performing long-range, above-water missions in peacetime was one thing. Performing that task while someone is shooting at you is completely different.