Thunderbird120

Thunderbird120 t1_jaaqq3u wrote

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.

11