The B-52 lives in an awkward niche. Bomb trucks over utterly unprotected airspace might just not be a thing anymore.

If that holds for the forseen future, the B-52 will not have a real successor.

Currently, it looks like non-precision bulk bombing is just obsolete.

We "depend" on the B-52 because it still works, and there's a lot of chance it shouldn't get a replacement.

Are there any other planes we "depend" on that are old but not being replaced? Our tanker fleet is old but we are looking to replace it. Maybe some transports are getting old? But they probably don't need a new design. EWACS is old but also seeing new systems being built.

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wbl 11 hours ago | parent | next [-]

The B-52 has hands with the JASSM, ALCM, LRASM. No need to get close to pack a punch. Yeah a successor would likely be a LO blended wing body design, but the idea of cheap to operate big truck is fine.

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ianburrell 9 hours ago | parent [-]

If you want cheap missile truck, then Rapid Dragon, dropping missiles from cargo aircraft, is the answer.

The B-21 is the B-52 successor, and has to worry less about being shot down.

	▲	wbl 4 hours ago \| parent [-]
		There are systems that are in bombers that Rapid Dragon does not deal with, and you need to expand the transport fleet that the Army and Navy and you also want for other missions. It's great for pounding fixed positions where you can load up and program on ground but not readjust in the air based on how it's going. Also not all munitions work effectively with it. A dedicated bomber enables things like MOAB.

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rawgabbit 10 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

The C-130 is ubiquitous. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_C-130_Hercules

The US plans to replace both JSTAR and AWACS with Golden Dome? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Dome_(missile_defense_s...