Future B-52J.

[Oldman1]

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...-of-future-plans-for-an-upgraded-b-52j-bomber

As the U.S. Air Force moves closer to starting a major re-engining programfor its B-52H Stratofortresses, it is reportedly considering adding in additional upgrades to ensure the bombers will remain combat capable through at least 2050. These updates could include improvements to the iconic plane’s avionics, defensive suite, sensors, ejection systems, and flight data recorder, with the resulting aircraft receiving the new designation B-52J.

Aviation Week’s Aerospace Daily & Defense Report was the first to report on the developments, citing anonymous sources who attended a recent industry day event at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. Tinker is where the Air Force conducts heavy depot maintenance on both the B-52 and B-1 bombers and is home to the shop in charge of maintaining the Stratofortress’ existing TF33 engines. There is also no indication that the proposed "B-52J" nomenclature is in any way related to previous concepts that used that moniker, such as the B-52 Stand-Off Jammer (SOJ) electronic warfare platform or unofficial B-52J arsenal plane concepts.

 

[khansaheeb]

Old lady of the sky needs to be retired.

 

[gambit]

Old lady of the sky needs to be retired.

Same for the C-130?

What does the C-130, B-52, B-17, B-29, and the Boeing and Airbus airliners series have in common?

Versatility of their airframes, and that versatility came from basic design and layout. You have a standalone fuselage, long wings for lift and endurance, multiple engines and their configurations allows for ease of maintenance, and a host of lesser details. There have been other designs that shares the same characteristics as the C-130 and B-52, but they were retired when better versions of what they do came along.

Make no mistakes, there have been attempts to replace the B-52 and other aircrafts still flying, but some designs have just the ideal mix of components, large and small, that made retiring them difficult without a newer design replicating what they do. That is why the C-130 variants will be flying for another 50 yrs or even longer, and probably the B-52 as well. Their airframes and engineering are so ideally blended that it is more cost effective to improving the variants than to design and engineer new ones.

 

[Irfan Baloch]

Same for the C-130?

What does the C-130, B-52, B-17, B-29, and the Boeing and Airbus airliners series have in common?

.

they are timeless marvels. have stood the test of time for decades over decades

 

[LeGenD]

Old lady of the sky needs to be retired.

Bro, you have no idea.

B-52 platform have continously evolved over time, and tell me something what these monsters cannot do at present. Each bring overwhelming firepower to bear against a foe from considerable distance(s) with scores of standoff munitions and powerful EW capabilities in tandem.

For instance: https://taskandpurpose.com/b-52-stratofortress-weapons-upgrade/

In the near future, they will be unloading dozens of hypersonics on potential targets from considerable distance.

I recall these monsters taking off from Heathrow airport in London in 2003, proceed to Iraq, unleash their firepower over desired targets, and go back - each sortie completed in a span of 6 hours tops. Scary stuff.