The US continues to fly the B-52 Stratofortress for these reasons.

Although terrible, World War II was also the most destructive war in human history and gave birth to many technologies and advances. The creation of long-range strategic bombers such as the B-17 and B-24 was part of that, although research and development continued after the war. The US continued to develop its strategic bomber force, and in 1955 it unveiled the legendary B-52 Stratofortress, often referred to as the Big Ugly Fat Fella (BUFF), replacing the outdated propeller-based aircraft with jets.

Although the B-52 first flew in 1952, the United States has still been using them for more than 70 years. This aircraft changed the face of the country’s strategic bomber force. Boeing completed production of 744 B-52s, the first of which entered service in 1955. Since then, only 76 B-52s are still in service after several upgrades have brought the aircraft up to date with contemporary improvements.

As a result, the United States still operates its fleet of B-52s and has no intention of doing so anytime soon. With more than a century of continuous active duty ahead of it, the United States now plans to keep the aircraft operational into the 2060s, perhaps making it the longest-serving fighter jet in history. This is the reason a number of factors, but primarily, the B-52 is reliable, requires a small crew, can carry a variety of ordnance, and is relatively inexpensive.

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What Are The B-52’s Capabilities?

There are several statistics that support the designation of the B-52 as a tactical bomber. With an unaltered combat range of 8,800 miles, it can carry a payload of 70,000 pounds and reach a top speed of Mach 0.84 (650 mph). It can carry a variety of weapons and can fly up to 50,000 feet in the air. These range from mines and explosives, in the latter types, to air-launched cruise missiles. The B-52 is a member of America’s nuclear triad because it is capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

Six nuclear-armed AGM-86B air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM) are capable of being carried under each wing of the B-52H Red Gremlin II. Each missile carries a W80-1 nuclear warhead that can deliver between five and 150 kilotons, making the twelve missiles highly lethal weapons. Thankfully, the weapons were never launched in retaliation and remain a cornerstone of the United States’ strategic nuclear doctrine.

During the Cold War, the B-52 was originally built to deliver nuclear bombs to the Soviet Union and is still used for this today. A 20 mm rotary cannon, defensive rockets, and a rear quad .50 caliber machine gun were among the defensive features equipped with each B-52 variant. Since its launch, the B-52 has supported missions around the world, most notably providing air support for the Vietnam War, the 1991 Gulf War, NATO operations in the Balkans, and numerous conflicts in the 21st century.

Why The U.S. Continues To Fly Its Fleet Of B-52s

The United States has produced several strategic bombers since the early 1950s, many of which are technologically more advanced than earlier models. This is also the case with all the improvements the B-52 received. The B-52 is significantly smaller than the B-2 Spirit and the upcoming B-21 Raider, which is expected to enter service in the mid-2020s. When that happens, it can be replaced by the B-52.

Nevertheless, the United States of America still uses and intends to continue using the B-52 for many more years as it builds up its long-range strategic bomber force. One of the primary reasons behind this is the aircraft’s proven performance history in multiple conflicts. Although it was built to deliver nuclear bombs, it has been proven time and time again to be capable of delivering conventional weapons; In nearly 1,800 flights, it has supported operations against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

It is very friendly and relatively few B-52s have been shot down. In addition to serving as conventional bombers and strategic nuclear deterrents, B-52s are also used for close-air support, offensive counter-air, maritime operations, and air interdiction.

It can also gather intelligence to assist the United States, particularly in the area of ​​maritime surveillance.Navy. Cost is an issue, but the B-52 can probably fit any duty. The United States invested about $84 million in each plane, compared to $1.157 billion for a more recent model like the B-2, making the B-52 a more cost-effective option that the country can’t afford to ignore.

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