Boeing B-52H Stratofortress / Veteran of US Strategic Deterrence

Boeing B-52H Stratofortress, Long-Range Strategic Bomber, USA By normal standards long since rendered obsolete due to its great vulnerability to surface-to-air missiles, the mighty Boeing B-52 Stratofortress has seen two would-be successors fall by the wayside. It remains a major element in one of the three U.S. strategic deterrents and will continue to give valuable service well into the 21st century. The B-52 began life in 1948 as a turboprop successor to the B-50. In 1949, a change to Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojet powerplant was made and the XB-52 prototype made its maiden flight on April 15, 1952. The B-52 evolved through progressively improved B-52A to B-52G models, the latter remaining in service to late 1994. The ultimate B-52H is characterized by two major changes, introduction of TF33 turbofans that give greater thrust in concert with a considerably reduced specific fuel consumption, and structural changes which permit the B-52 to fly at low altitudes without excessive fatigue problems. The final B-52H was rolled out in June 1962 and with the B-1B and B-2A entering service in only limited numbers, the B-52H has been constantly upgraded to enable it to remain a credible frontline type. With the B-1B increasingly assuming the free-fall nuclear role of the B-52H, this latter type has been reallocated to the force projection role, with weapons that now include the AGM-86C conventionally armed variant of the nuclear cruise missile and have NAP missiles. The importance of the B-52H to the USAF's continued need for warplanes with global reach while carrying very heavy warloads is demonstrated by the fact that comprehensive upgrades for the remaining aircraft, both in terms of avionics and weapons systems, are still planned. Design of the B-52 bomber is currently over 60 years old. The type is scheduled to remain in service with the U.S. Air Force until 2044. Furthermore, there are plans to re-engine the B-52 fleet in order to keep it operational through 2050. B-52J is a new version of the venerable B-52, with a number of improvements, including new Rolls-Royce F-130 engines, new radar, new communication and navigation systems and so on. It is compatible with new weapons, including the AGM-183. This is the most significant improvement of the B-52H bomber for more than 60 years since its introduction in 1962. Interestingly, the Rolls-Royce F-130 engines were selected in 2021 following competitive selection process. These are derived from highly reliable Rolls-Royce BR family of commercial engines. The new engines have 30% better fuel efficiency. Furthermore it is planned that this engines will need no overhauls for the duration of their expected service life on the wings of the B-52. The new and Slash AGP-79B4 active electronically scanned array radar is a variant used on the Navy's F-18 Super Hornet multi-role fighter. It provides high level of situational awareness. Furthermore this AESA radar will add additional capabilities in terms of search, ground mapping and electronic warfare. It is also much smaller than the previous APG-166 radar so there will be growth potential for future upgrades. The B-52J will become a replacement for the Cold War era B-52H bombers. It should enter service with the US Air Force after 2024. All 76 operational B-52H bombers will be upgraded to the B-52J standard. It is planned that the B-52J will remain in service through the 2050s.