“I very much doubt that. The BUFF hasnt flown in combat against modern threatsnot even an SA-10. Its actual performance against some of the latest threats may be known, but I wouldnt bet my life on the EW package.”
You can believe it; the EW suite has been kept up-to-date — and oh BTW, the B-52 had not yet flown against any of the “latest threats” in 1972, right before they went in and pulverized the most heavily defended area in the world, Hanoi, and that was done at 30,000 feet. Are you really sure that U.S. aircraft haven’t already practiced flying against the SA-10? Don’t be.
B-52’s got murdered going into Hanoi.
At least 10% losses by U.S. numbers.
BTW--I added the qualifier "in combat" deliberately. 1972 was a very different situation from today. Back then our aircraft flew all kinds of sorties against operational SAM systems--so our intel was very good. SAM technology was a lot easier to spoof back then, but the NV operators were also highly experienced. Luckily, the BUFFS had Wild Weasels to help with SEAD. Even so, there were BUFF losses; they were far from invulnerable.
Of course, EW defensive systems are kept up to date. But they are only as good as the intelligence and exploitation available--and those are never perfect. In Schwartzkoph's autobiography ("It Doesn't Take a Hero"), he made the comment that B-52's were invulnerable due to the EW packages. If someone told him that they were either naive or lying. Lucily, Sadaam mostly had the older stuff.
EW countermeasures are just a part of a package, including SEAD and tactics. A smart crew views them as a tool of last resort--nothing more.