It was in 1952. That year, the strategic bomber B-52 Stratofortress made its first flight and has been a vital part of the US Air Forcea situation that makes it the longest-serving military aircraft in history. A record that the US Army plans to take further, until the middle of this century, which will exceed 100 years of service, with the new B-52J variant that will enter service in the next decade.
Over the years, Boeing has manufactured 744 B-52 of those that currently remain in the Air Force inventory 76 that will be upgraded to B-52J. This will mean new engines, advanced avionics, new digital displays and the ability to deploy hypersonic missiles with speeds exceeding Mach 5. According to Air and Space Forces, ‘any aircraft B-52H modified with new commercial engines and associated subsystems will be designated B-52J’.
This is the B-52H that will be updated to B-52J
The B-52, also known as the ‘big, fat, ugly buddy’ or Buff, is the US Air Force’s premier long-range, high-lift multi-role bomber. It serves as the country’s main strategic platform for nuclear and conventional weapons since it made its first flight in 1961.
The B-52H is the Air Force’s latest B-52 model, equipped with increased payload capacity and longer range. It is a very large plane, with 48.5 meters long and weighing approximately 83,000 kg. It has a weapons load capacity of more than 31,000 kg and can carry a more diverse range of weapons than any fighter aircraft.
Your ability to nuclear weapons includes 12 AGM-129 advanced cruise missiles, 20 AGM-86A cruise missiles and eight bombs. According to Airforce Technology, the load of conventional weapons of the B-52H includes eight AGM-84 Harpoon missiles, four AGM-142 Raptor missiles, 20 AGM-86C cruise missiles, 12 joint stand-off attack weapons (JSOW), 12 joint direct attack munitions and 16 corrected ammunition dispensers by wind (WCMD). Additionally, the B-52H can deploy naval mines.
The improvements of the B-52J bomber
One of the most significant changes that the B-52H will receive will be the replacement of its engines Pratt & Whitney TF33from the Cold War era, by new engines Rolls Royce F130. This upgrade will improve fuel efficiency by up to 30% and will be installed under the Air Force Commercial Engine Replacement Program.
In terms of armament, the bomber was initially intended to carry the AGM-183, an air-launched hypersonic weapon. However, it appears that the Air Force is scrapping this program and prioritizing the HACM hypersonic cruise missile in the future.
As Breaking Defense details, ‘the HACM is a motor-propelled cruise missile.’scramjet”, which can fly at speeds greater than Mach 5 and maneuver your way to the target, making it difficult for adversaries to take you down. The Air Force awarded a contract for the weapon to the subsidiary of Raytheon, RTXin 2022, with a scramjet that will be supplied by Northrop Grumman. The HACM builds on previous work done with DARPA and continues a partnership with Australia. The service has previously said it expects the weapon is ready for fiscal year 2027‘.