Chinese military analysts rank the US B-52 bomber as a top threat due to its nuclear payload, range, and strategic versatility, urging upgrades to China’s air defenses and surveillance systems.
Chinese researchers recently ranked the oldest combat aircraft in the United States Air Force’s fleet as the most dangerous. The Chinese analysts, led by Wang Bingqie from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Early Warning Academy in Wuhan, released a study that suggested the Cold War-era B-52 Stratofortress long-range strategic bomber was a greater threat to China’s navy and inland targets than more modern aircraft.
As the South China Morning Post first reported, the Chinese study was published in the Modern Defense Technology security journal earlier this month. It simulated a US Air Force “penetrating counterair (PCA) operation on Chinese naval fleets or inland targets.”
According to the findings, the seven-decade-old bomber was the top threat “across all combat phases: deployment, penetration, and strike.”
The paper highlighted the B-52’s payload capacity, range, and upgraded avionics, which offered a “higher strategic value” in a “limited nuclear conflict” than the US Air Force’s stealth fighters and bombers.
Chinese Researchers Fear the Bombing Capacity of the B-52
The B-52’s most significant advantage could be its potential ability to deliver the B61-12 air-launched tactical thermonuclear bomb. Each bomb is equivalent to 300 tonnes of TNT, and while the bombs are “primarily meant for deterrence, [they] could be used to cripple core A2/AD (anti-access/area denial) facilities and critical nodes if necessary.”
The Chinese researchers added, “These nuclear-armed platforms enhance lethality through blast waves, radiation penetration, and radioactive contamination, significantly amplifying their destructive power beyond conventional fragmentation and penetration effects.”
Though the study further noted that the Lockheed Martin F-35A stealth fighter and Lockheed B-2 Spirit can carry nuclear weapons, the B-52 could have more than any other platform.
It is unclear if the number of aircraft was considered. The US Air Force maintains a fleet of seventy-six B-52 bombers, which will receive upgrades and enhancements, including improved sensors and notably new engines.
By contrast, the US Air Force has just nineteen B-2 Spirits. However, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) no longer lists the B-52 as capable of carrying the gravity bomb. Still, there has been speculation that 30 bombers could see their capabilities restored.
The United States Air Force’s F-35A is also the only variant of the Joint Strike Fighter currently certified to carry the B61-12 gravity bomb. However, both the F-15E Strike Eagle and the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon can also deliver nuclear weapons.
It is also unclear if the PLAAF Early Warning Academy study identified those aircraft in the recent research. However, it should be noted that the US fighters can’t operate from aircraft carriers and would require aerial refueling when operating from Guam, the closest US territory to mainland China.
The study called for China to enhance its early warning networks, improve its surveillance coverage, and reinforce its air defense systems to stop US aircraft threats.
Beijing maintains a “no first use” nuclear policy, but this recent study highlights that China takes seriously the threat of a first strike against its navy and cities.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
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