The B-52H is the service’s primary strategic nuclear and conventional weapons platform.
When it comes to legendary aircraft, the American-made B-52 “Stratofortress” bomber certainly comes to mind. Representing the cornerstone of the US Air Force’s (USAF) strategic bomber fleet, the B-52 has been around for nearly three-quarters of a century. The iconic platform may be old, but thanks to some serious upgrades that have been incorporated into it over the years, the B-52 is actually expected to remain in service for another couple of decades. Most recently, the service is actively working to equip its Stratofortress fleet with the new AGM-181A Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) nuclear-armed cruise missile. The Raytheon-built weapon is expected to play a key role in the USAF’s strategic defense when formerly introduced to service down the line.
While the LRSO’s detailed specs and capabilities remain highly classified, a rendering published by the service has been scrutinized by The War Zone. According to the outlet, the weapon appears to feature an inverted tail just like the conventionally-armed AGM-158 JASSM air-launched cruise missile. Additionally, no air inlet is visible based on the declassified rendering of the weapon, which could be due to security reasons or simply because the angle of the image misses it. The new missile, which will replace its AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) predecessor, will be armed with the W80-4 thermonuclear warhead. This enhanced capability will undoubtedly elevate the stealth bomber’s prowess in the skies.
Introducing the B-52 Stratofortress
Since its introduction to service more than seven decades ago, the Boeing B-52 has effectively provided the United States with both immediate nuclear and conventional global strike capability. The B-52’s origin story dates back to World War II, when the former Air Material Command first outlined requirements for a new strategic bomber that could fly long-range missions without needing to rely on intermediate bases in foreign lands. As per the service’s requirements, the new bomber was envisioned to be able to cruise at speeds of 300 miles per hour with a hefty armament load of 10,000 pounds of bombs and several 20mm cannons. Boeing ultimately beat out its competitors in securing the contract, including Glenn L. Martin Company and Consolidated Aircraft.
Following a lengthy development and production effort, the first B-52 officially entered service with the Air Force as the Cold War was beginning to heat up. Designed to overwhelm Soviet air defended with top speed and sophisticated electronic countermeasures, the Stratofortress very quickly became an icon of the Cold War. Over the last 70 years, several key enhancements have been incorporated into the B-52 platform. The newest B-52H iteration features a larger payload and longer range than ever before. Nicknamed the Buff (big ugly fat fellow), the B-52H is the service’s primary strategic nuclear and conventional weapons platform. The upcoming B-52J will be even more lethal when introduced. Equipped with a better engine and new weapons including the upcoming LRSO down the line, this variant could ultimately help the platform achieve a full centennial in service.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: DVIDS.
