A shortage of EA-6B Prowler radar-jamming aircraft and fears they weren't effective at long ranges led the U.S. Air Force to plan the modification of a B-52H for an electronic warfare mission during the Kosovo conflict. While the project was cut short by the cease-fire, a long-term plan to modify B-52s, B-1Bs or another aircraft for electronic warfare has survived. The Air Force had plans in place to modify the B-52H with EW gear to augment the Navy and Marine Corps EA-6B Prowler force, said Col. Dean Yount, who oversees Air Force EW programs. To maximize its usefulness, the B-52 would have retained its ability to drop bombs and fire long-range cruise missiles.
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