Thunderbird120 t1_jaaqq3u wrote on February 28, 2023 at 2:00 AM

Reply to comment by Animal_Prong in TIL the last B-52 Bomber produced for the US left the factory 10/26/1962 - the same day as the climax of the Cuban Missile Crisis - they're still used 60 yrs later. by GoGaslightYerself

Nope, they live on. The B-21 replaces the B-1 and the B-2 but the B-52 continues. There are a lot of roles which don't need stealth but do need significant payloads, range, and the ability to bolt large, oddly shaped things under the wings. The B-52s theoretically take some pressure off the B-21s for things like chucking long range cruise missiles or deploying MALDs. You can technically do that out of cargo planes these days but the B-52s already exist, are a little better for the role, and don't really cost that much to operate.

hpshaft t1_jab7abq wrote on February 28, 2023 at 4:09 AM

B52s are also in the beginning stage of FINALLY getting new commercial based engines. That alone will help prolong its lifespan.