Oh My: The B-52 Bomber Is Now the Hypersonic Arsenal Plane

Summary and Key Points: The legendary B-52 Stratofortress is undergoing a radical modernization designed to keep it flying for a full century.

-Far from its origins as a Vietnam-era carpet bomber, the new B-52 is evolving into a digital “arsenal plane” equipped with the Combat Network Communication Technology (CONECT) system for real-time data sharing and drone swarm control.

A 2nd Bomb Wing B-52H Stratofortress taxis under a spray of water after returning from a mission July 12, 2014, at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. This marked the last flight for one crew member on the aircraft, Lt. Col. Ronald Polomoscanik, the 343rd Bomb Squadron director of operations, who is retiring after 23 years of service. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)

-The most significant recent upgrade is the integration of the APQ-188 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar—a “fighter-style” sensor providing high-resolution tracking of multiple targets—along with expanded internal bays for hypersonic and nuclear-capable Long Range Stand-Off (LRSO) weapons.

The 100-Year Bomber: How the B-52 Is Getting a “Fighter Jet” Brain

The classic Vietnam-era B-52 may be famous for carpet bombing decades ago. Yet, today’s B-52 continues to evolve into a modern drone-launching, hypersonic missile-firing, precision-bomb-dropping platform likely to fly for a full 100 years.

Upgrades in recent decades have ensured that the modern B-52 is almost an entirely different aircraft from the classic platform, which proved both extremely important yet also vulnerable to enemy fire during its years in Vietnam.

B-52 Upgrades

The B-52 engine upgrade is well known.

Yet lesser recognized adaptations include the expansion of a new internal weapons bay for increased bomb-carrying capacity, the addition of hypersonic weapons, new digital communications networks, and a growing ability to operate as a flying command-and-control hub, able to launch, operate, and recover drones.

The communications improvements are multifaceted, including the addition of a modernized digital system known as Combat Network Communication Technology (CONECT).

Not only does CONECT accelerate and refine data transmission, management, collection, and storage, but it also helps the service advance tactics and concepts of operation for the modern B-52.

With CONECT, crews conducting operations can now receive in-flight intelligence and target updates in a way that was not previously possible.

A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, is refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill AFB, Florida, within the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility, June 18, 2024. The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. As part of the Air Force Global Strike Command, the B-52 enables combat-ready forces to conduct strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations in support of combatant commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lauren Cobin)

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)

An interesting US Air Force essay from 2016 discusses CONECT as the “first major digital upgrade” to the B-52, enhancing communication and situational awareness.  

Using what’s called an ARC 210 Warrior software-programmable voice-and-data radio, pilots using CONECT can now send and receive targeting data, mapping information, and intelligence with ground stations, command centers, and other aircraft.

In this respect, the large B-52 could almost operate like an “arsenal plane” able to transport and launch drone swarms from forward locations to blanket areas with ISR, test enemy air defenses, or even conduct strikes when directed by a human.

The B-52 is also nuclear-capable and can drop upgraded variants of the famous B-61 Mod 12 and fire the nuclear-capable Long Range Stand-Off weapon. 

New B-52 Radar

The most recent innovation with the B-52 is the Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, a longer-range, more sensitive, and higher-resolution system able to track multiple targets simultaneously from greater stand-off distances.

The radar, called the APQ-188, is now being flight-tested at Edwards Air Force Base in California and has recently completed ground integration and initial systems functional checks, according to a Boeing essay on the radar. 

“The new radar will significantly increase B-52 mission effectiveness by improving situational awareness, speeding target prosecution and enhancing aircrew survivability in contested environments,” Troy Dawson, vice president of Boeing Bombers, said in a press release. “This phase of the program is dedicated to getting it right at the start so that we can execute the full radar modernization program.”

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)

Data gathered during testing will inform subsequent developmental test phases and the planned retrofit of the 76 operational B‑52 aircraft, the Boeing essay explained. 

Fighter Jet Radar

The radar upgrade for the B-52, in effect, gives the bomber a “fighter-jet”- style radar, as the F-35, F-15, and F-16 all fly with AESA radars.

The advantages are multifaceted as they go beyond speed and range to include high-resolution imagery renderings, detection of much smaller threat objects at greater distances, and the ability to concurrently track multiple moving targets in real time.

It makes sense that the B-52 would get an AESA radar, as it has a large nose radome into which transmit and receive modules can be “packaged” for high-power density and detection sensitivity. 

About the Author: Kris Osborn 

Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.