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B-52 Stratofortress

The B-52 Stratofortress: Still One of America’s Deadliest Weapons 70 Years Later

Even after 70 years of service, the B-52 Stratofortress remains one of America’s deadliest weapons and has participated in nearly every US conflict since the Vietnam War. Three B-52 bombers arrived at the United Kingdom’s RAF Fairford base on Monday, March 9, 2026, as part of the ongoing US military operations against Iran in the Middle East.

The B-52s are capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds of ordnance, including nuclear weapons, cruise missiles, and heavy bombs. The bombers can also deliver the 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-buster bomb, designed to penetrate deep underground and destroy subterranean facilities operated by Iran’s current regime. Along with the B-2 Spirit, the B-52 serves as a key component of America’s Nuclear Triad.

The B-52 rose to prominence during the Vietnam War in Operation Linebacker II, where the aircraft dropped more than 15,000 tons of bombs. More than 740 B-52s were built in total, with 58 currently in active service. On March 3, 2026, US Central Command confirmed that a B-52 bomber force was deployed during the Iran conflict to strike ballistic missile sites and command-and-control posts.

(NYP/VFI News)