Key Points and Summary: The B-52J Stratofortress is poised for reinvention as a drone mothership, potentially transforming air warfare.
-With updates to engines and radars, the Air Force envisions the B-52J collaborating with Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)—unmanned systems capable of intelligence gathering, electronic warfare, and armed strikes.
-This “flying aircraft carrier” concept leverages drones for swarming, loitering munitions, and bomb damage assessments.
-While CCA costs and technological integration remain challenges, the B-52J offers a platform for advancing autonomous systems.
-If successful, this innovation could redefine the bomber’s role and enhance U.S. air power in contested environments well into the 2030s.
The B-52J Could Become a ‘Flying Aircraft Carrier’
Could the B-52J fly another ten years and reinvent itself?
You probably know the B-52 for its intense bombing campaigns in Vietnam. It was instrumental in the “shock and awe” operations in both wars in Iraq. It is also an important leg of the U.S. nuclear triad.
But the B-52J is going through a modernization period with new engines and radars.
Proponents believe this process will keep it at the top of mind into the 2030s, while critics say this update is too expensive and time-consuming.
Look Out for the B-52J as a Drone Mothership
One way to keep the B-52J relevant is using the platform as a “drone mothership.” It is safe to say that unmanned craft have transformed warfare in Ukraine.
Kamikaze drone swarms have eliminated several hundred Russian tanks and can even be used for anti-personnel efforts, much like a guided hand grenade.
What Is the Collaborative Combat Aircraft?
The United States is working on the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) project. This was previously known as the “Loyal Wingman” concept.
The idea is for the CCA to be tethered to an airplane like the F-35 or the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter.
The Collaborative Combat Aircraft is envisioned as an unmanned system that can be controlled by a mothership and used as an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data collection platform. CCAs could be armed with hypersonic missiles and electronic warfare pods. They could also conduct bomb damage assessments, target enemy airplanes, and improve the B-52J’s ability to carry out ground strike missions with either conventional or nuclear weapons.
Multi-mission Mini-Drones
The B-52J would be perfect for this “flying aircraft carrier” role.
Controlling drones could be done by quantum computing and artificial intelligence. CCAs could also be autonomous.
CCAs will be much larger than drone quadcopters, but the B-52J could also release the smaller drones to attack tanks, enemy soldiers, and other ground targets. Meanwhile, the CCA would execute the other significant mission parameters.
After the engine and radar update, the Air Force envisions having 76 active B-52Js. Having all these bombers enabled with the CCA mothership option would not be necessary.
Of course, the more with this capability, the better.
Let’s Reduce the Cost of the CCA
One of the problems with the CCA is cost, and the Air Force is trying to get the price per pound expense down to $1,200 a pound from the usual $4,000 to $5,000 a pound that large recon drones cost. That could mean the CCA may not be as robust and multi-mission capable as supporters would like it to be.
The B-52J, as an “aircraft carrier,” could then focus on deploying smaller and cheaper drones for swarming and loitering munition roles.
Analysts at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies wrote the definitive report on CCAs.
The authors are sure these aircraft can transform the fight in a 21st-century threat environment.
“CCAs could increase the Air Force’s capacity to generate lethal mass for counterair operations. Appropriately equipped CCAs can perform as force multipliers that increase the number of sensors and weapons the Air Force can project into contested battlespaces. CCAs could also extend the sensor and weapon ranges of stealthy crewed aircraft they team with, increasing their lethality and survivability. This will require designing CCAs with enough survivability to ensure they can reach their air-to-air weapons launch points in contested environments,” the authors said.
The Way Forward Will Be Difficult But Exciting
However, the CCAs are costly, and the technology integration will be complex. The Air Force may have to wait for artificial intelligence and quantum computing to mature before the B-52J can become a drone mothership.
The flying aircraft carrier concept is interesting and exciting and shows that the Air Force is thinking about a future drone fleet that will not endanger human pilots.
The strategic mission of the B-52J could use a hand with bomb damage assessment during a nuclear strike.
With a drone, you don’t have to worry about nuclear fall-out that could endanger a human pilot. CCAs could operate in this atomic environment and figure out the efficacy of the nuclear weapon’s targeting.
I’m impressed with CCAs, and you have probably noticed I write about the Loyal Wingman concept regularly as it relates to NGAD. If NGAD is canceled by the new Secretary of Defense and his acquisition chief, then the CCA must be carried by an existing aircraft.
The B-52J will be a good candidate for this mission if CCAs are to thrive in the 2030s when they are expected to be a factor in future warfare.
So, you may see a flying aircraft carrier someday, and the B-52J will be an essential platform for this possibility. It’s nice the Air Force is looking decades ahead.
B-52 Bomber Photo Essay

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber, deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., lands at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 4, 2020. The B-52 flew the 28-hour mission to demonstrate U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s commitment to the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Richard P. Ebensberger)

A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress conducts a combat air patrol in support of Operation Inherent Resolve over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 15, 2024. The deployment of the long-range heavy bombers into the USCENTCOM theater demonstrates the United States’ dedication to deterring aggression and maintaining stability in the region alongside allies and partners. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gerald R. Willis)

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., breaks away after receiving fuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from RAF Mildenhall, England, over the Mediterranean Sea April, 9, 2018. A formation of four KC-135s refueled two B-52s. Each KC-135 offloaded more than 80,000 pounds of fuel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Benjamin Cooper)

A B-52 Stratofortress takes off during Global Thunder 2019 at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Nov. 5, 2018. Global Thunder is an annual U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) exercise designed to provide training opportunities to test and validate command, control and operational procedures. The training is based on a notional scenario developed to drive execution of USSTRATCOM and component forces’ ability to support the geographic combatant commands, deter adversaries and, if necessary, employ forces as directed by the President of the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Lillian Miller)

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress departs after being refueled by KC-135 Stratotanker over the Pacific Northwest July 18, 2024. The 92nd Air Refueling Wing and 141st ARW’s ability to rapidly generate airpower at a moment’s notice was put to the test when Air Mobility Command’s Inspector General team conducted a no-notice Nuclear Operational Readiness Inspection, July 16–18, 2024. During the NORI, Airmen demonstrated how various capabilities at Fairchild AFB enable units to generate and provide, when directed, specially trained and equipped KC-135 Stratotanker aircrews to conduct critical air refueling of U.S. Strategic Command-assigned strategic bomber and command and control aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lawrence Sena)

A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force base, Louisiana, approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill AFB, Florida, for fuel over the southeastern United States, Dec. 4, 2024. The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The aircraft can carry nuclear or precision guided conventional ordnance with worldwide precision navigation capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lauren Cobin)

B-52H Stratofortress Primary function: Heavy bomber. Speed: 650 mph. Dimensions: Wingspan 185 ft.; length 159 ft. 4 in.; height 40 ft. 8 in. Range: 8,800 miles unrefueled. Armament: M117, Mk-56/62/65/82/84, CBU- 87/89/103/104/105, AGM-86B/C/D/129A/158A, GBU- 10/12/28/31/38; nuclear weapons. Crew: Five. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Lance Cheung)
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.

Marshall
January 16, 2025 at 8:00 pm
No one yet knows if “real” quantum computing with a sufficient number of qubits to perform useful tasks will be possible, so I hope the CCA won’t be completely dependent on that fundamental problem.
Patti
January 17, 2025 at 12:28 am
My favorite airplane. My dad was 30 years USAF. I was born at Barksdale AFB.