B-52H

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range strategic bomber. Its history began in 1946 when the U.S. Air Force issued a requirement for a bomber with an 8,000 km range. Boeing won the competition to develop the aircraft. Following numerous design and specification changes, the YB-52 prototype was completed and made its maiden flight on April 15, 1952. In 1954, the first batch of three pre-production B-52A aircraft intended for testing was produced.

The first mass-produced variant was the B-52B, which had new turbojet engines. The final production variant was the B-52H, which first flew on July 10, 1960. Its main distinguishing feature was the installation of Pratt & Whitney TF33 turbofan engines, which increased the aircraft's range and reduced fuel consumption. The aircraft's rear fuselage structure was strengthened, its avionics were upgraded, its machine guns were replaced with an M61 Vulcan 20 mm cannon, an aerial refueling system was added, and new sighting systems were installed. Production of the B-52H ended in October 1962, and a total of 102 aircraft were built.

The B-52 first saw combat in Vietnam during Operation Linebacker II in December 1972. It later participated in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the war in Yugoslavia in 1999, and operations over Afghanistan and Iraq. It also carried out airstrikes against Iran in 2026. As of 2026, despite being over 60 years old, the B-52H remains in service with the U.S. Air Force and is regularly upgraded.

The B-52H was introduced as one of the rewards for the 2026 "Nuclear Thunder" event. It is a bomber with decent speed and is capable of carrying up to 30 tons of payload. For defense, it has only a 20mm cannon, RWR, and countermeasures. Combined with its enormous size, these defenses are still inadequate and make the B-52H dependent on allies.