The U.S. Air Force's B-52J Bomber Problem

The upcoming B-52J variant won’t be operational for another nine years, prompting the question: is the J-variant worth the wait? 

B-52: What’s Old is New 

The B-52 Stratofortress has been in service since the 1950s, making the eight-engined bomber one of the longest-tenured aircraft in the entire US Air Force, along with the C-130 Hercules and the U-2 Dragon Lady. Despite being in service for eighty years, the B-52 has stubbornly maintained its relevance, and with the J-variant on the way, the B-52 is scheduled to eclipse the one-century-in-service mark. 

Of course, the airframe has benefited from a steady stream of upgrades to all of her systems, including avionics, power plant, ordnance, and more.  

The B-52J will offer the latest upgrade, starting with a new Rolls Royce F-130 engine, which is expected to improve fuel economy while lowering the airframe’s radar cross section (RCS). Granted, the B-52 is never going to be a stealth aircraft, but the new engine will reduce the aircraft’s detectability against enemy aircraft. Additionally, the J-variant will feature an upgraded radar system, borrowed directly from the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet. 

Weapon Flexibility 

Ultimately, the merit of any bomber is measured by the weapons it can deliver. The B-52’s longevity is owed in large part to the airframe’s massive ordnance payload; the B-52 can heft 70,000 pounds of mixed ordnance including bombs, mines, and missiles. 

To put that payload in perspective consider that a World War II-era bomber had a payload of about 8,000 pounds, just over one-tenth that of the B-52. Now consider the risks bomber crews were taking on each mission just to deliver their 8,000 pounds of ordnance, and the value of the B-52 comes into focus.  

In addition to conventional weapons, the B-52 G- and H-variants, plus the upcoming J-variant, can carry nuclear ordnance, specifically, the AGM-69 nuclear missile. The ability to carry nuclear weapons gives the B-52 a more dynamic function, and the respect inherent to such awesome power.  

Not Broken, Don’t Fix

The Air Force has determined that the J-variant is worth the wait. Flight testing isn’t scheduled to begin until 2028. The airframe isn’t expected to be operational until 2033. But the B-52 has proven itself worthy of staying in service. And while B-52 fleet readiness has become a concern, leaving the potential for gaps in bomber availability, the Air Force doesn’t have much of an alternative option to waiting on the B-52J, which is likely the cheapest and easiest solution.  

By 2033, the B-52J may be serving alongside the B-21 Raider, an upcoming stealth bomber slated to replace the B-1 and B-2 and offer the Air Force a cutting-edge stealth option. Alongside the B-21, the B-52 may seem anachronistic. But in combat against unsophisticated adversaries, or in a battle space within which the U.S. has gained air superiority, the B-52 is more than capable of serving as a devastating offensive weapon.  

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.     

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