The B-52 eight-engine jet bomber with a long history has always been a symbolic icon of America’s air power. Born in the 1950s, the B-52 is expected to remain in service until the 2060s, serving as a cornerstone of the U.S. Air Force bomber fleet and sending clear signals to America’s adversaries.
After World War II, the United States continued its efforts to build a strategic bomber force, and in 1955, introduced the iconic B-52 “Stratofortress” bomber, now known as the “Big Ugly Fat Fellow” (BUFF), upgrading from old propeller aircraft to jet planes.
Boeing produced a total of 744 B-52 aircraft, with the first one entering service in 1955. Since then, the aircraft has undergone multiple upgrades to synchronize its capabilities with modern enhancements, becoming the primary strategic bomber for the U.S. military, participating in every U.S.-involved conflict since the Vietnam War.
Currently, 76 B-52s are still in active service. The U.S. military plans to have the B-52 in operation until sometime in the 2060s, potentially making it the longest-serving military aircraft in history, with nearly a century of service.
In a recent mission lasting 33 hours, a B-52 produced in 1961 took off before dawn on April 1st and flew over the Pacific Ocean’s frigid waters, passing Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, Russia’s eastern coast, China, and North Korea, before returning to base without landing, escorted by fighter jets from South Korea and Japan.
“We are not only the most visible and flexible force of the nuclear triad, but also a very simple way for the Air Force and the United States to guarantee security to allies,” said Weapons Systems Officer Captain Bo “NATO” Cain. The nuclear triad comprises strategic bombers, ballistic missile launch silos, and ballistic missile submarines, forming part of the U.S. nuclear deterrent force, with the B-52 being the most mobile element.
“We have the B-52, ready to arrive within 48 hours if needed,” Cain told CNN.
The B-52, a strategic bomber capable of carrying 70,000 pounds of payload, flying at speeds of up to 0.84 Mach (650 miles per hour) and reaching an operational range of 8,800 miles without refueling, flying at altitudes of 50,000 feet, is able to carry various munitions, from bombs and mines to later-designed air-launched cruise missiles, and can also carry nuclear ordnance, making it a part of the U.S. nuclear triad.
The B-52H “Red Gremlin II” can carry six AGM-86B air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM) with nuclear warheads on each wing, each equipped with a W80-1 nuclear warhead capable of releasing an explosive equivalent of 5 kilotons or 150 kilotons. Despite not being launched yet, these missiles remain part of U.S. strategic nuclear policy.
Each B-52 model has multiple defense capabilities, including aft quad.50 caliber machine guns, 20mm M61 rotary cannons, and various defensive missiles. Since its introduction, the B-52 has provided support for operations worldwide, including in the Vietnam War, the 1991 Gulf War, NATO operations in the Balkans, and providing flight support in numerous 21st-century conflicts.
The U.S. Air Force plans to upgrade the B-52H to the updated B-52J model, equipping it with more efficient engines, upgraded avionics, and new radar systems. This modernization program will allow the B-52 to continue flying, with a potential service life of nearly a century.
“In the coming decades, we will see how a jet aircraft that has been in service for decades continues to advance and become as strong as it was before, if not stronger,” said Lieutenant Colonel Jared Patterson, commander of the 20th Bomber Squadron, to CNN.
Although lacking stealth capabilities, the B-52 has a proven track record in multiple conflicts. While designed for nuclear weapon delivery, the B-52 has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to deliver conventional weapons.
Moreover, the B-52 has suffered relatively few losses in combat and plays many roles, including close air support, offensive anti-aircraft warfare, maritime operations, and airborne interception. It can also gather intelligence, especially in maritime surveillance, to support the U.S. Navy. In whatever role it plays, the B-52 is up to the task.
Colonel Michael Maginness, commander of the Second Bomber Squadron, stated, “It was originally a high-altitude nuclear bomber. We turned it into a low-altitude penetrating bomber. We also turned it into a standoff cruise missile platform. In the process, it has completed nearly every other air-to-ground mission set by the Department of Defense.”
Jennifer Wong, Boeing’s Senior Program Director for bomber aircraft, said in December 2021, “No other warplane can deliver such a large payload and fly further and faster.”
“Through aerial refueling, the B-52 can strike anywhere on Earth from a domestic base within hours. No other nation has this capability. Only the B-52 has the ability to carry oversized future weapons on its wing pylons and deliver them globally. That is why the U.S. Air Force is modernizing this aircraft for another 30 years of service,” she explained.
Cost is another factor. The U.S. spends around $84 million on each B-52, while more modern alternatives like the B-2 cost $1.157 billion, making the B-52 a more affordable choice that the U.S. cannot ignore.