With 7 decades of service behind them, B-52 bomber is the oldest combat plane of the US Army. You might think that a long time since the active service should have abandoned and be replaced by new bombers, but the combination of its characteristics – score, load capacity, versatility to carry nuclear armament, structure placed infinity of times and modernization capacity – has made it for the United States to be more practical and economical keep it and update it than developing a bomber Not furtive From scratch. And in that process it is immersed Boeingits manufacturer, although with difficulties. According to 19Fortyfive, the renewal that will make it the B-52J has postponed Your operational availability for 2033while the first flight is planned to 2028.
This update, which will be applied to 76 remaining units of model B-52H -originally manufactured between 1961 and 1962-, the objective is to keep the bomber operational Until the 2050swhich would make it The first combat plane with a full century of service.
According to the Government Responsibility Office (GAO), delays in update to B-52J are due to the Substimation of program financing needs, difficulties with the integration of new technologies and problems with some materials. Other aspects of B-52J, such as the modernization of their engines, progress as planned.
The new Rolls-Royce engines
The central axis of this modernization is the replacement of engines Pratt & Whitney TF33 -In use since the early 60s- by Turbofán engines Rolls-Royce F130commercial motor derivatives Br725and of which the company plans to manufacture more than 600 at its Indianapolis plant.
The new engines promise an improvement of up to a 30 % in fuel efficiency and significantly expand the scope without refueling, currently in 14,000 kilometers. Despite modernization, the plane will keep its four gondolas with two enginesadding eight in total, a rare configuration today that supports its enormous load capacity.
New systems in the B-52J
In addition to the change of engines, Boeing is integrating A set of new systems in the B-52H: new motor pylons, complete internal wiring, modernized plane, digital architecture, satellite navigation and modern communication tools such as Link 16.
The cabin will incorporate digital screens and better interfaces for the crew. Radar will also be installed AESA RAYTHEON AN/APG-79the same one that equips the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet of the American navy. This radar will improve detection capabilities, land mapping and electronic war. The latter will be reinforced with the integration of the Pod or interference capsule AN/ALQ-249 (V) 1 which provides active and passive defense against radar threats and missiles.
It is not suitable for penetrating modern defenses, but for remote attacks
The B-52J He is not a poaching and has a great radar firmwhich makes it inappropriate to penetrate modern air defenses. However, it is Optimized for remote attacks with long -range weapons.
Its strength is based on Electronic countermeasures, speed, altitude and ability to launch armament from outside enemy reach. It can overcome the 15,000 meters of altitude and will continue flying at subsonic speeds, such as the previous versions. It is not designed for solo incursions, but as Cruise and hypersonic missile launcher platform from the rear.
The bomber with the highest US armament capacity.
With a load capacity of up to 31,750 kgB-52 can transport more and greater variety of weapons than any other American bomber. This includes conventional ammunition such as JDAMCruise missiles AGM-86 and anti -mockery weapons, in addition to nuclear weapons such as the AGM-129 and gravitational bombs. It has already been modified with the system IWBU (1760 Internal Weapons Bay Upgrade), which allows you to carry intelligent weapons internally. It is also adapting to carry hypersonic weapons, now focusing on the missile Hacm (Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile), scheduled to enter service in fiscal year 2027, details Breaking Defense. Special pylons are being developed to allow multiple hypersonic missiles by mission. The bomber could also launch unmanned aircraft (CCAS)expanding their abilities for the future.
The program has an estimated cost of 2,560 million dollarsa figure that has been criticized by those who consider that these funds should be used for other new generation platforms.
The Air Force plans to withdraw before both the B-1b Lancer like him B-2 Spiritdue to its high costs and limited availability, and will leave the B-52J and B-21 as a core of the future fleet. If you fly until 2055the B-52 will reach the 100 years in active dutyan unprecedented milestone in military aviation.