The B-52 is nearing its first century of service: why the U.S. still can't replace it.

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bomber could reach a century of service in the United States Air Force. The U.S.-manufactured Boeing B-52 Stratofortress faces a potential reassessment of its future after an uninterrupted service record that began in the 1950s. The U.S. government has allocated $1 million to an initial study to analyze how and when its replacement could occur, although doubts remain about whether a new aircraft will be able to fill its role. Currently, there are 76 B-52 bombers in service, and the official expectation is that they will remain operational until at least 2050, which means that the newest aircraft would reach 88 years of service before being retired, according to sources in the aerospace sector. International analyst Andrei Serbin Pont explained on Infobae en Vivo Al Mediodía that the B-52 "will fly beyond 2050. This means that the newest of these B-52s will have 88 years of active service by the time it is retired." He also noted: "Some units may reach a hundred years of service. A hundred would be a nice number to mark the end. A ceremony for a hundred years of service." A total of 744 units were manufactured between 1955 and 1962. The aircraft were developed after World War II to carry out intercontinental missions, with the aim of being able to take off from the United States, attack targets in the Soviet Union, and return without the need for refueling. The contract for the prototype was awarded shortly after the war, the first flight was in 1952, and mass production began in 1955. The last unit manufactured in 1962 is still the newest in operation. Boeing is responsible for manufacturing the B-52. The bomber does not have a direct equivalent in European aircraft, as, according to Andrei Serbin Pont, "Europeans do not operate nuclear bombers of this type. These are large bombers." For example, Airbus specializes primarily in commercial aircraft, although it has a military development area, but lacks comparable strategic bomber models. The B-52 was designed for nuclear and conventional missions. It played an active role during the Vietnam War and later launched anti-ship missiles in response to threats from the Soviet fleet during the Cold War. Later, with technological advancements and changes in military doctrines, the B-52 was adapted for missile-launching missions, solidifying its position as a versatile platform. During the invasion of Iraq in 2003, more than a hundred cruise missiles were launched from B-52 units. Currently, they are also used in operations against Iran: "They can take off from the United States, refuel in flight, launch a large number of cruise missiles over long distances, and return to their bases," said Serbin Pont. The bomber continues to lack a direct replacement for these functions. The United States is allocating $1 million to a preliminary study to analyze the replacement of the historic B-52. The United States has explored alternatives such as the B-1 and B-2. The B-1 was designed to penetrate Soviet air defenses, while the B-2 prioritized radar invisibility. The new B-21 bomber is in advanced stages of development, with the expectation of replacing the B-2. However, the U.S. Air Force has not been able to fully replace the B-52 in its key roles. "In fact, they are modernizing them," said Serbin Pont. The modernization plan includes the installation of new AESA radars and engines for all units. "Each of these has eight engines. The project is now estimated to cost $15 billion, which will be spent on this modernization so that these aircraft continue to fly and remain active until 2050," the analyst detailed.