Bomber Aircraft: Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Intercontinental Strategic Bomber

The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, strategic heavy bomber capable of dropping or launching the widest array of weapons in the U.S. inventory. The latest version, the B-52H, can carry up to 20 air-launched cruise missiles.



Used for strategic attack, air interdiction, offensive counter-air and maritime operations, its capabilities include:

• Carrying nuclear or precision-guided conventional ordnance, including gravity bombs, cluster bombs, precision guided missiles and joint direct attack munitions
• Delivering approximately 70,000 pounds of mixed payload, both internally and on external pylons
• Combat range exceeding 8,800 miles (7,652 nautical miles) unrefueled -- can be refueled aerially
• High subsonic speeds up to 650 miles per hour, or Mach 0.86
• Flying at altitudes up to 50,000 feet (15,166.6 meters)
• Low-altitude flight capability, augmented by its electro-optical viewing system

The B-52 entered military service in 1954. Ongoing updates have included new avionics, data-link communications, electronic defense and offensive systems, and more powerful, fuel-efficient turbofan engines. Used in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the B-52 has been the longest-serving bomber U.S. military history.

HISTORY:
First Flight 15 April 1952 Service Entry February 1955
Retirement B-52D 1983, B-52G 1994, B-52H not planned until at least 2020

CREW:
Five: aircraft commander, pilot, radar navigator, navigator, electronic warfare officer

ESTIMATED COST:
$53.4 million [1998$]

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root NACA 63A219.3 mod Wing Tip NACA 65A209.5 mod

DIMENSIONS:
Length 160.92 ft (49.05 m) Wingspan 185.00 ft (56.39 m) Height 40.67 ft (12.40 m) Wing Area 4,000 ft2 (371.6 m2)
Canard Area not applicable



WEIGHTS:
Empty 195,000 lb (88,450 kg) Normal Takeoff unknown
Max Takeoff B-52A-F = 452,000 lb (205,025 kg),
B-52G/H = 488,000 lb (219,600 kg) Fuel Capacity internal: unknown
external: unknown Max Payload 70,000 lb (31,500 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant eight Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3/103 turbofans
Thrust 136,000 lb (605.0 kN)

PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed at altitude: 595 mph (955 km/h) [B-52H] at sea level: 405 mph (650 km/h), Mach 0.53 cruise speed: 510 mph (820 km/h) Initial Climb Rate unknown Service Ceiling 50,000 ft (15,240 m) Range typical: 6,380 nm (11,800 km) ferry: 8,685 nm (16,090 km) g-Limits unknown

ARMAMENT:
Gun one 20-mm Vulcan cannon in tail (remotely controlled, but removed by 1991 to save money) Stations one internal bomb bay and four external hardpoints
Air-to-Surface Missile up to 20 AGM-69 SRAM or AGM-86 ALCM, up to 8 AGM-84 Harpoon, up to 4 AGM-142 Popeye
(B-52H) up to 20 AGM-86C CALCM, up to 20 AGM-129 ACM, AGM-154 JSOW, AGM-158 JASSM
Bomb up to 8 B61/B83 nuclear bombs, up to 51 Mk 82 500-lb GP, Mk 84 2000-lb GP, up to 51 M117 750-lb GP, GBU-30 JDAM, CBU-87/89/97 cluster, CBU-103/104/105 WCMD
(B-52D) up to 108 conventional bombs Other maritime mines

KNOWN VARIANTS:
XB-52 and YB-52 Prototypes B-52A Boeing test and development aircraft; 3 built B-52B First operational model for the USAF; 50 built
RB-52B Reconnaissance version based on the B-52B model; 27 converted B-52C Improved model with better equipment and greater performance; 35 built
B-52D New fire-control system for four 0.5-in. machine gun assembly in tail; 170 built, retired from service in 1983 B-52E Improved navigation and weapons systems, new flight deck layout to accomodate improved displays, improved engine; 100 built B-52G Lighter airframe and greater fuel capacity; originally designed to operate AGM-28 Hound Dog missile and also equipped with 'Quail' decoy aircraft; 193 built B-52H Improved engine, better low-level performance, new tail gun; 102 built EB-52 Proposal to fit B-52 airframes with electronic warfare equipment for use as stand-off jammers

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:
Vietnam War (USAF, 1965-1972)
Iraq - Operation Desert Storm (USAF, 1991)
Iraq - Operation Southern Watch (USAF, 1991-2003)
Iraq - Operation Desert Strike (USAF, 1996)
Iraq - Operation Desert Fox (USAF, 1998)
Kosovo - Operation Allied Force (USAF, 1999)
Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom (USAF, 2001)
Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom (USAF, 2003)

KNOWN OPERATORS: United States (US Air Force),
United States (US Air Force Reserves)