B-52J: Air Force’s ‘New’ Bomber Armed with Mach 5 Hypersonic Missiles

Summary and key points: More than 70 years after its first flight, the iconic B-52 Stratofortress remains a vital part of the U.S. Air Force, ready to serve well into the mid-21st century and perhaps beyond. The upcoming B-52J variant represents the most significant upgrade in the bomber’s history.

– Key improvements include replacing the aging Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines with new Rolls Royce F130 engines under the Commercial Engine Replacement Program, which increases fuel efficiency by 30%.

The B-52J will also feature advanced avionics, new digital displays, and the ability to carry hypersonic cruise missiles (HACM), a ramjet-powered weapon capable of speeds in excess of Mach 5. These improvements will ensure the B-52J continues to play a critical role for decades to come.

B-52J Stratofortress: The Legendary Bomber’s Biggest Upgrade to Date

More than 70 years ago, the legendary B-52 strategic bomber first took to the skies for the U.S. Air Force. This long-range, subsonic aircraft may be aging rapidly, but the Air Force has no plans to retire it. In fact, the Stratofortress will serve until the mid-21st century.^T century. He may cross the century mark before he finally retires.

Service plans call for a fleet over the next decade that will include 76 newly upgraded B-52s and at least 100 next-generation B-21 Raiders. And the latest version of the B-52 will be the largest upgrade in Stratofortress history.

Perhaps the most significant upgrade to the B-52J variant is the replacement of its engines. According to Air and Space Forces Magazine, “Any B-52H aircraft modified with new commercial engines and associated subsystems is designated a B-52J.”

The first B-52s were powered by Cold War-era Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines. The Air Force will now install new Rolls Royce F130 engines in the B-52J as part of its Commercial Engine Replacement Program. The upgraded bomber will also receive improved avionics, new digital displays and a Long Range Standoff weapon.

B-52J Bomber Review

The Air Materiel Command first outlined requirements for a new bomber platform two months after the end of World War II. To achieve air superiority, the service wanted the new aircraft to have a cruising speed of at least 300 miles per hour, a combat radius of 5,000 miles, and the ability to carry heavy ordnance.

Proposals came from many prominent manufacturers of the time, including Boeing, Glenn L. Martin Company, and Consolidated Aircraft. Ultimately, Boeing’s design was selected, and the B-52 first flew in the late 1950s. The bomber was designed to overwhelm Soviet defenses with its high speed and advanced electronic countermeasures.

Several Stratofortress variants have been introduced over the years. The B-52H is the Air Force’s latest model, with a larger payload and greater range. Nicknamed Buff (big, ugly, fat guy), the B-52H is the service’s primary strategic nuclear and conventional weapons platform.

This variant debuted in 1961. In the early 2000s, Boeing was awarded a contract to design and develop a network communications technology program, known as CONECT, that would provide network-centric operational capabilities. This important feature was complemented by a larger weapons payload. As Air Force Technology explains, the B-52H can carry more than 70,000 pounds of a variety of weapons. This variant can carry AGM-84 Harpoon missiles, AGM-86A air-launched cruise missiles, Joint Direct Attack Munitions, and a variety of other weapons.

The upcoming B-52J will be even more powerful. The bomber’s engine will feature a new power generation system that will provide 30% fuel savings. As for weapons, the bomber was originally supposed to carry the AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon hypersonic missile. However, it appears that the Air Force is scrapping this program and prioritizing the hypersonic cruise missile (HACM).

As Breaking Defense details, “HACM is an air-breathing, hypersonic jet-powered cruise missile that can fly at speeds greater than Mach 5 and maneuver en route to a target, making it difficult for adversaries to shoot it down. The Air Force awarded RTX subsidiary Raytheon a 2022 weapons contract for the hypersonic missile, to be delivered by Northrop Grumman. HACM builds on previous work done with DARPA and continues a partnership with Australia. The service has previously said it aims to field the weapon by fiscal year 2027.”

Although only about 10 percent of the U.S. B-52 bomber fleet of 744 remains in service, the aircraft continue to play a disproportionately large role in the Air Force. Given the improvements planned for the B-52J, the Stratofortress is well-positioned to serve for decades to come.

About the Author: Maya Carlin

Maja CarlinNational Security Writer at The National Interest, is an analyst at the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has written for numerous publications, including The National Interest, the Jerusalem Post, and the Times of Israel. Follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.

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