A USAF long-range strategic bomber built by Boeing, in service since 1955. The US operates 76 active B-52H airframes capable of carrying 70,000 lb of ordnance over 8,800 miles.

What role did B-52s play in the Iran conflict?

B-52s began conducting overland missions inside Iranian airspace after Coalition air superiority was established, operating from Diego Garcia and contributing to a campaign exceeding 11,000 strikes.

How many B-52s are still flying?

The USAF operates 76 active B-52H airframes, primarily with the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB and the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB, with 18 further reserve aircraft.

Background

The B-52H Stratofortress began conducting overland missions inside Iranian airspace after Coalition forces established air superiority in March 2026, marking the first time the 70-year-old bomber had flown combat sorties directly over a state adversary since the 2003 Iraq invasion. Operating from Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, the aircraft contributed to a campaign that exceeded 11,000 strikes on Iranian targets. The shift from standoff to overland missions was authorised by CENTCOM after a formal assessment that Iran no longer possessed effective air defences.

Boeing built 744 B-52s from 1952; the USAF currently operates 76 active B-52H airframes, primarily with the 2nd and 5th Bomb Wings. The aircraft carries up to 70,000 lb of mixed ordnance including precision-guided munitions and Cruise Missiles, with an unrefuelled combat range exceeding 8,800 miles and unlimited range with aerial refuelling. That payload is roughly four times the 18,000 lb a typical F-35 sortie delivers, making each B-52 mission disproportionately impactful in a tonnage-intensive campaign. A crew of five operates each aircraft.

The B-52's deployment over Iran underscored Washington's commitment to sustained strategic bombardment rather than a limited strike campaign, sending a signal to both Tehran and regional allies that the US was prepared to employ its full conventional arsenal.