Boeing B-52 Stratofortress: Difference between revisions

[[File:B-52H Bomb Bay - 1984 at Ellsworth AFB.jpg|thumb|left|B-52H bomb bay: [[AGM-69 SRAM]] missiles (front) and [[B28 nuclear bomb]]s (background), as a downloading takes place during Exercise GLOBAL SHIELD '84]]

[[File:A striking challenge (7851986672).jpg|thumb|left|Members of the Global Strike Challenge nuclear/conventional load crew team lift a GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition into position during a dry run leading up to the 2012 Air Force Global Strike Command Challenge on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 20, 2012.]]

 

The ability to carry up to 20 [[AGM-69 SRAM]] nuclear missiles was added to G and H models, starting in 1971.{{sfn|Knaack|1988|pp=277–278}} To further improve its offensive ability, air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) were fitted.{{sfn|Tagg|2004|p=89}} After testing of both the USAF-backed [[AGM-86 ALCM|Boeing AGM-86 Air Launched Cruise Missile]] and the Navy-backed [[BGM-109 Tomahawk|General Dynamics AGM-109 Tomahawk]], the AGM-86B was selected for operation by the B-52 (and ultimately by the B-1 Lancer).{{sfn|Polmar|2005|p=529}} A total of 194 B-52Gs and Hs were modified to carry AGM-86s, carrying 12 missiles on underwing pylons, with 82 B-52Hs further modified to carry another eight missiles on a rotary launcher fitted in the bomb bay. To conform with [[Strategic Arms Limitation Talks|SALT II Treaty]] requirements that cruise missile-capable aircraft be readily identifiable by reconnaissance satellites, the cruise missile-armed B-52Gs were modified with a distinctive [[wing root]] [[Aircraft fairing|fairing]]. As all B-52Hs were assumed modified, no visual modification of these aircraft was required.{{sfn|Willis|2005b|pp=44–45}} In 1990, the stealthy [[AGM-129 ACM]] cruise missile entered service; although intended to replace the AGM-86, the high cost and the Cold War's end led to only 450 being produced; unlike the AGM-86, no conventional, non-nuclear version was built.{{sfn|Dorr|Rogers|1996|pp=65–66}} The B-52 was to have been modified to utilize [[Northrop Grumman]]'s [[AGM-137 TSSAM]] weapon; however, the missile was canceled due to development costs.{{sfn|Polmar|2005|p=532}}