Type: B-52H
Function:
bomber
Year: 1955
Crew: 6
Engines: 8 * 75.6 kN P&W TF-33-P-3
Wing Span: 56.39 m
Length: 49.05 m
Height: 12.40 m
Wing Area: 371.60 m2
Max.Weight: +221353 kg
Speed: 957 km/h
Ceiling: 16765 m
Range: 16093 km
Armament: up to 58 500-lb or 42 750-lb bombs in weapons bay and 12 750-lb
bombs at each of the two underwing pylons. Or conventional or nuclear
free-falling stores internally and two AGM-28A or -28B Hound Dog missiles
(B-52 G & H). Four ½ inch guns in MD-9 tail turret, or one 20-mm ASG-21
rotary canon (B-52H)
Mission
Air Combat Command's B-52 is a
long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The
bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes up to
50,000 feet (15,166.6 meters). It can carry nuclear or conventional
ordnance with worldwide precision navigation capability.
Features
In a conventional conflict, the B-52 can
perform air interdiction, offensive counter-air and maritime operations.
During Desert Storm, B-52s delivered 40 percent of all the weapons dropped
by coalition forces. It is highly effective when used for ocean
surveillance, and can assist the U.S. Navy in anti-ship and mine-laying
operations. Two B-52s, in two hours, can monitor 140,000 square miles
(364,000 square kilometres) of ocean surface.
All B-52s are equipped with an
electro-optical viewing system that uses platinum silicide forward-looking
infrared and high resolution low-light-level television sensors to augment
the targeting, battle assessment, flight safety and terrain-avoidance
system, thus further improving its combat ability and low-level flight
capability.
Pilots wear night vision goggles (NVGs)
to enhance their night visual, low-level terrain-following operations.
Night vision goggles provide greater safety during night operations by
increasing the pilot's ability to visually clear terrain and avoid enemy
radar.
Starting in 1989, an on-going
modification incorporates the global positioning system, heavy stores
adaptor beams for carrying 2,000 pound munitions and additional smart
weapons capability. All aircraft are being modified to carry the AGM-142
Raptor missile and AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile.
The use of aerial refuelling gives the
B-52 a range limited only by crew endurance. It has an unrefuelled combat
range in excess of 8,800 miles (14,080 kilometres).
The aircraft's flexibility was evident
during the Vietnam War and, again, in Operation Desert Storm. B-52s struck
wide-area troop concentrations, fixed installations and bunkers, and
decimated the morale of Iraq's Republican Guard. The Gulf War involved the
longest strike mission in the history of aerial warfare when B-52s took
off from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., launched conventional air launched
cruise missiles and returned to Barksdale -- a 35-hour, non-stop combat
mission.
Background
For more than 35 years B-52
Stratofortresses have been the primary manned strategic bomber force for
the United States. 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. Updated with modern
technology, the B-52 will continue into the 21st century as an important
element of our nation's defences. Current engineering analysis show the
B-52's life span to extend beyond the year 2045.
The B-52A first flew in 1954, and the B
model entered service in 1955. A total of 744 B-52s were built with the
last, a B-52H, delivered in October 1962. Only the H model is still in the
Air Force inventory and all are assigned to Air Combat Command.
The first of 102 B-52H's was delivered
to Strategic Air Command in May 1961. The H model can carry up to 20 air
launched cruise missiles. In addition, it can carry the conventional
cruise missile which was launched from B-52G models during Desert Storm.
The B-52's electronic countermeasures
suite is capable of protecting itself against a full range of air defence
threat systems by using a combination of electronic detection, jamming and
infrared countermeasures. The B-52 can also detect and counter missiles
engaging the aircraft from the rear. These systems are undergoing
continuous improvement in order to enable them to continue to counter
emerging threat systems.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Heavy bomber
Contractor: Boeing Military Airplane Co.
Unit Cost: $30 million
Power Plant: Eight Pratt & Whitney engines TF33-P-3/103 turbofan
Thrust: Each engine up to 17,000 pounds
Length: 159 feet, 4 inches (48.5 meters)
Height: 40 feet, 8 inches (12.4 meters)
Wingspan: 185 feet (56.4 meters)
Speed: 650 miles per hour (Mach 0.86)
Ceiling: 50,000 feet (15,151.5 meters)
Weight: Approximately 185,000 pounds empty (83,250 kilograms)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 488,000 pounds (219,600 kilograms)
Range: Unrefuelled 8,800 miles (7,652 nautical miles)
Armament: Approximately 70,000 pounds (31,500 kilograms) mixed
ordnance -- bombs, mines and missiles. (Modified to carry air-launched
cruise missiles, Harpoon anti-ship and Have Nap missiles.)
Crew: Five (aircraft commander, pilot, radar navigator, navigator
and electronic warfare officer)
Accommodations: Six ejection seats
Date Deployed: February 1955
Inventory: Active force, 85; ANG, 0; Reserve, 9