US Relies on Aging B-52s as Bomber Force Struggles to Keep Pace
A U.S. B-52 Stratofortress bomber flies over East Hagatna in Guam on Monday afternoon, March 10, 2003. 
The US Air Force has increased the number of operationally available B-52 Stratofortress bombers by nearly 40% as part of a new readiness campaign aimed at addressing long-standing maintenance, spare parts, and logistics problems, Military Watch Magazine reports.The increase comes as Washington faces pressure to maintain enough long-range strike capacity for global operations, with Air Force Global Strike Command seeking to restore the availability of its key bomber platforms.Delays to the B-21 program and limited numbers of newer bombers have forced the US to continue relying on the aging Vietnam War-era B-52 fleet. The B-52H remains the most widely deployed US bomber, with 76 aircraft in service, while modernization plans for the B-52J standard have faced delays and rising costs.
MilitaryPentagon Acknowledges Practice of ‘Cannibalizing’ B-52 Bombers Due to Parts Shortage17 September, 03:12 GMT
