In 1991, seven B-52s flew 14,000 miles nonstop from Louisiana to Iraq in 35 hours — the longest combat mission in history. They launched the first GPS-guided missiles ever used in war.

Inside the insane 35-hour secret B-52 mission that kicked off the Gulf War

The B-52 has unique swivelling landing gear that lets it land 'crabbed' sideways in crosswinds. No other aircraft in the world can do this. Here's how it works.

Why B-52 bomber lands completely sideways and looks terrifying doing it

In 1961, a B-52 broke apart mid-air and dropped two live 3.8-megaton thermonuclear bombs on Goldsboro, NC. One bomb was one switch away from detonation.

How B-52 accidentally dropped two nukes on North Carolina and one switch saved millions

In 1964, turbulence ripped the vertical stabilizer off a B-52H over New Mexico. Pilot Chuck Fisher flew it for five more hours and landed safely. The aircraft then served for 44 more years.

How a B-52 bomber lost its entire tail in mid-air and somehow still landed

Three generations of the Welch family have flown B-52 bombers at the same squadron. The aircraft won't retire until 2050. No other weapon system comes close.

B-52 bomber is so old, grandfathers and grandsons have shared the same cockpit

The B-52 cannot survive direct penetration of modern air defences due to its massive radar signature. Instead, it survives by launching standoff hypersonic missiles, deploying MALD radar decoys, and utilising advanced electronic warfare jamming.

Can the B-52 bomber survive modern air defences?

Designed before the internet, the B-52 bomber survives through massive digital upgrades. With new AESA radar, secure data links, and hypersonic weapons, the over-engineered USD 84 million aircraft will remain a lethal missile truck into the 2050s.

Built before the internet era: How the B-52 bomber is still flying combat missions

The US Air Force's B-52 bomber hits targets thousands of miles away without leaving friendly airspace by acting as a flying missile truck. Equipped with long-range cruise missiles like the AGM-86B and JASSM-ER, the aircraft launches precision strikes safely outside enemy radar.

How the B-52 bomber can hit targets thousands of miles away without leaving US airspace

The B-52 and Tu-95 entered service a year apart in the 1950s. In 2026, both are still nuclear-capable and still intercepted by each other's air forces. Here's the full comparison.

America's B-52 vs Russia's Tu-95: Two Cold War bombers, still flying, still pointing at each other

On January 17, 1966, a B-52 scattered four thermonuclear bombs over Palomares, Spain after a mid-air collision. One was lost at sea for 80 days. Here's the full story.

It once accidentally dropped 4 hydrogen bombs over Spain and nobody told the public for days

The US Air Force is spending $2 billion on new Rolls-Royce engines, a new AESA radar, and a new designation for its 60-year-old B-52. Is it still the same aircraft?

The B-52 has been upgraded so many times almost nothing original is left, so is it still the same plane?

The B-52 Stratofortress can fly at 50,000ft, carry 32,000kg of weapons over 14,000km. Here's a full breakdown of the specs that make it unlike any other aircraft.

8 engines, 32,000kg payload, 50,000ft ceiling: Why the B-52 Stratofortress is the most terrifying aircraft ever built

The B-52 first flew in April 1952. Over 70 years later it is still America's frontline strategic bomber, with the USAF planning to fly it past 2050.

Built in 1952, still bombing in 2026: The B-52 is older than your grandfather and America refuses to retire it

The B-52 bomber flies an incredible 8,800 miles without refuelling, carrying 312,000 pounds of fuel. Upcoming Rolls-Royce engine upgrades will slash fuel burn by 30 per cent, allowing the bomber to strike global targets entirely independently.

'The B-52 bomber's incredible range': How far can it fly on a single tank of fuel?

The B-52 reaches a top speed of 650 mph, making it slower than the Mach 1.25 B-1B Lancer but comparable to the B-2 stealth bomber. Rather than relying on supersonic speed, it survives by launching hypersonic standoff weapons from safe distances.

What is the top speed of the B-52 bomber & how does it compare to modern bombers?

The massive B-52 bomber cannot physically outmanoeuvre modern missiles due to its enormous size and subsonic speeds. Instead, it survives contested airspace using an advanced electronic countermeasures suite to jam enemy radar and relies on standoff cruise missiles to strike safely.


Can a 185-ton B-52 bomber outmaneuver threats?

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress of the US and Tupolev Tu-95 "Bear" of Russia are among the oldest strategic bombers still in active service. Introduced just a year apart in the 1950s, both were designed for long-range nuclear deterrence during the Cold War.

B-52 vs Tupolev Tu-95 "Bear-G": Comparing technical profile of US and Russia strategic bombers