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Boeing B-52H, the old beast that will remain in service until 2050
A total of 102 B-52Hs were built. The last production aircraft was B-52H AF Serial No. 61-40, leaving the factory on October 26, 1962.
The first flight of the B-52H variant took place on July 10, 1960 and officially entered service on May 9, 1961.
The H variant is the last version of the B-52 family and the only variant that is still in active use today and over three decades into the future.
In addition to the B-52H, it received an updated ECM and avionics. A new fire control system was installed, and the rear defense armament was changed from machine guns to 20 mm Vulcan M61 canons (later removed in 1991-1994).
The main change made to the B-52H variant was the use of the new TF33-P-3 turbofan engine, which offers much better performance and fuel economy than the J57 turbojet engine of the previous generation.
Currently, 58 B-52H units are operated by the active forces, namely the 2nd Bomb Wing and 5th Bomb Wing. Another 18 units are operated by the reserve forces of the 307th Bomb Wing, and about 12 are in long-term storage at Davis-Monthan AFB Boneyard.
A major advantage over the B-1B and B-2 is the Bb-52H's lower operational and maintenance costs.
While the USAF's other strategic bombers, the Boeing B-1B Lancer and Northrop B-2 Spirit, will begin to be retired in the early 2030s, the B-52H will be actively maintained until 2050.
To fly it, the B-52H is operated by a crew of five (pilot, copilot, weapons system operator, navigator, and electronic warfare operator).
Weapons that the B-52H can carry include conventional and nuclear bombs, and conventional or nuclear warhead air-to-surface cruise missiles.
The 221,323 kg Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) bomber is equipped with eight Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3/103 turbofan engines, each with 76 kN of thrust.
It features a maximum speed of 1,050 km/h, a flight altitude of up to 15,000 m, and a combat range of 14,200 km without mid-air refueling.
The B-52 family has been battle-tested, from the Vietnam War to being involved in the Gulf War in Iraq and the Afghanistan War.
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