 |
| A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress makes a flyover at Air Force Station Yelahanka, Bengaluru, India, Feb. 20, 2019. (USAF/Senior Airman Juan Torres) |
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic heavy bomber. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, which has continued to provide support and upgrades.
 |
| A B-52H Stratofortress taxis down the runway during Prairie Vigilance 16-1 at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Sept. 16, 2016. (USAF/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong) |
It has been operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) since the 1950s. The B-52 Stratofortress bomber is capable of carrying up to 32,000 kg (70,000 pounds) of weapons, and has a typical combat range of more than 14,080 km (8,800 miles) without aerial refueling.
 |
| A U.S. Air Force 2nd Bomb Wing B-52H Stratofortress flies over Norway during training and integration with the Royal Norwegian Air Force in support of Bomber Task Force Europe 20-1 Nov. 6, 2019. (USAF/Tech. Sgt. Christopher Ruano) |
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress celebrated its 50th anniversary (first flight April 1952) in April 2002 and is the longest-serving combat aircraft in the world – a total of 744 were built.
 |
| A B-52H Stratofortress takes off during exercise Global Thunder 19 at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Nov. 4, 2018. (USAF/Tech. Sgt. Jarad A. Denton) |
It is the USAF’s principal strategic nuclear and conventional weapons platform that supports the US Navy in anti-surface and submarine warfare missions.
The B-52 is capable of dropping or launching a significant array of weapons in the U.S. inventory. This includes gravity bombs, cluster bombs and precision guided missiles.
 |
| A B-52H Stratofortress from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., flies to South Dakota during an exercise, Nov. 21, 2019. (USAF/Airman 1st Class Lillian Miller) |
The B-52H is a very large aircraft, with a length of 48.5 m (159 ft 4 in), wingspan of 56 m (185 ft) and take-off weight of 220,000 kg (488,000 lb). The all-metal skin bears a high proportion of flight loading.
 |
| U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Kevan Thomas, a pilot assigned to the 96th Bomb Squadron, does a preflight inspection on a U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress during Bomber Task Force Europe 20-1, Oct. 23, 2019, at RAF Fairford, England. (USAF/Airman 1st Class Duncan C. Bevan) |
The huge airframe of the B-52 earned it the nickname "Big Ugly Fat Fellow" (BUFF), but it also allowed the plane to be retrofitted with highly sophisticated navigational, weapons-control, and electronic countermeasures systems. Over the years, the bomber has frequently served as a "mother ship" for air-launching experimental aircraft, such as the X-15 and the X-43.
 |
| U.S. Air Force Maj. William McNair, 20th Bomb Squadron pilot, adjusts a dial inside a B-52 Stratofortress Jan. 16, 2019. (USAF/Staff Sgt. Philip Bryant) |
When on the ground, the surface of the aircraft on the forward section of the fuselage has a wrinkled appearance. The skin expands and becomes smooth as the crew compartment is pressurised when the aircraft gains altitude.
 |
| A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress receives fuel via aerial refueling from a KC-10 Extender above the Arabian Gulf, Nov. 1, 2019. (USAF/Staff Sgt. Daniel Snider) |
It originally carried a crew of six, its sole defensive armament being a remotely controlled gun turret in the tail. In 1991 the gun was eliminated and the crew reduced to five.
 |
| A B-52 Stratofortress from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., performs a turn at 28,000 feet above the Gulf of Mexico Oct. 13, 2016. (USAF/Senior Airman Curt Beach) |
The B-52H with a weapons payload of more than 32,000 kg (70,000 lb) is capable of carrying the most diverse range of weapons of any combat aircraft.
The nuclear weapons capacity includes 12 AGM-129 advanced cruise missiles (ACMS), 20 AGM-86A air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM) and eight bombs.
The conventional weapons payload includes eight AGM-84 Harpoon missiles, four AGM-142 Raptor missiles, 23,500 kg (51,500 lb) bombs, 20 AGM-86C conventional air-launched cruise missiles (CALCM), 12 joint stand-off weapons (JSOW), 12 joint direct-attack munitions (JDAM) and 16 wind-corrected munitions dispenser (WCMD). WCMD was first deployed by the B-52 in 2002 in Afghanistan. JSOW entered service in 2003 and was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress was the first aircraft to be equipped with the joint air-to-surface standoff missile (JASSM), which was cleared for operational use in October 2003.
The nuclear weapons capacity includes 12 AGM-129 advanced cruise missiles (ACMS), 20 AGM-86A air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM) and eight bombs.
The conventional weapons payload includes eight AGM-84 Harpoon missiles, four AGM-142 Raptor missiles, 23,500 kg (51,500 lb) bombs, 20 AGM-86C conventional air-launched cruise missiles (CALCM), 12 joint stand-off weapons (JSOW), 12 joint direct-attack munitions (JDAM) and 16 wind-corrected munitions dispenser (WCMD). WCMD was first deployed by the B-52 in 2002 in Afghanistan. JSOW entered service in 2003 and was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress was the first aircraft to be equipped with the joint air-to-surface standoff missile (JASSM), which was cleared for operational use in October 2003.
 |
| A B-52 Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., takes flight June 16, 2016, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. (USAF/Airman 1st Class Alexa Ann Henderson) |
The eight engines of the B-52 are paired in pods and suspended by four pylons beneath and forward of the wings' leading edge.
The B-52A models were equipped with Pratt & Whitney J57-P-1W turbojets, providing a dry thrust of 10,000 lbf (44.48 kN) which could be increased for short periods to 11,000 lbf (48.93 kN) with water injection. The water was carried in a 360-gallon tank in the rear fuselage.
B-52B, C, D and E models were equipped with Pratt & Whitney J57-P-29W, J57-P-29WA, or J57-P-19W series engines all rated at 10,500 lbf (46.71 kN). The B-52F and G models were powered by Pratt & Whitney J57-P-43WB turbojets, each rated at 13,750 lbf (61.16 kN) static thrust with water injection.
 |
| A B-52H Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., and six F-16 Fighting Falcons from Misawa Air Base, Japan, conduct bilateral joint training with four Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2s off the coast of Northern Japan, Feb. 4, 2020. (USAF/Staff Sgt. Melanie A. Bulow-Gonterman) |
B-52 Stratofortress can climb at the rate of 31.85 m/s. The maximum speed is 1,000 km/h. The range and a service ceiling of the B-52H are 15,937 km and 15,151 m respectively. The aircraft can reach a maximum altitude of 15,240 m. It weighs approximately 83,250 kg and the maximum take-off weight is 220,000 kg.
 |
| A B-52 Stratofortress breaks away from a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom, after receiving fuel during a strategic bomber mission, May 7, 2020. (USAF/Tech. Sgt. Emerson Nuñez) |
The B-52H Stratofortress is equipped with a wide range of electronic warfare equipment. The ITT AN/ALQ-172(V)2 electronic countermeasures system features multi-band threat recognition and multiple threat jamming. The AN/ALR-20A radar warning system detects and prioritises multiple threats.
It is also equipped with Motorola AN/ALQ-122 multiple false target generator, AN/ALT-32 noise jammer and Northrop Grumman AN/ALQ-153 tail warning set, which is a pulse Doppler threat warner.
It is also equipped with Motorola AN/ALQ-122 multiple false target generator, AN/ALT-32 noise jammer and Northrop Grumman AN/ALQ-153 tail warning set, which is a pulse Doppler threat warner.
General characteristics
- Crew: 5 (pilot, copilot, weapon systems officer, navigator, electronic warfare officer)
- Length: 159 ft 4 in (48.5 m)
- Wingspan: 185 ft 0 in (56.4 m)
- Height: 40 ft 8 in (12.4 m)
- Wing area: 4,000 sq ft (370 m2)
- Airfoil: NACA 63A219.3 mod root, NACA 65A209.5 tip
- Empty weight: 185,000 lb (83,250 kg)
- Loaded weight: 265,000 lb (120,000 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 488,000 lb (220,000 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 47,975 U.S. gal (39,948 imp gal; 181,610 L)
- Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0119 (estimated)
- Drag area: 47.60 sq ft (4.42 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 8.56
- Powerplant: 8 × Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3/103 turbofans, 17,000 lbf (76 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 560 kn (650 mph, 1,047 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 442 kn (525 mph, 844 km/h)
- Combat radius: 4,480 mi (3,890 nmi, 7,210 km)
- Ferry range: 10,145 mi (8,764 nmi, 16,232 km)
- Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 6,270 ft/min (31.85 m/s)
- Wing loading: 120 lb/ft2 (586 kg/m2)
- Thrust/weight: 0.31
- Lift-to-drag ratio: 21.5 (estimated)
Armament
- Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan cannon originally mounted in a remote controlled tail turret on the H-model, removed in 1991 from all operational aircraft.
- Bombs: Approximately 70,000 lb (31,500 kg) mixed ordnance; bombs, mines, missiles, in various configurations.
Avionics
- Electro-optical viewing system that uses platinum silicide forward looking infrared and high resolution low-light-level television sensors
- ADR-8 chaff rocket (1965–1970)
- LITENING Advanced Targeting System
- Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod
- IBM AP-101 computer
EmoticonEmoticon