The B-52 Stratofortress is the primary nuclear roled bomber in the USAF inventory. It provides the only Air Launch Cruise Missile carriage in the USAF. The B-52H provides theater CINCs a long-range strike capability. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes up to 50,000 feet (15,000 meters). You can carry nuclear or conventional munitions worldwide with precision navigation capability.
With a gross weight of 488.000 pounds, the B-52H is still one of the heaviest aircraft operated by the military offensive of any nation in the world. Maximum speed of the B-52H is 639 miles per hour at 20,700 feet, or a Mach number of 0.91, and a cruising speed of 525 kilometers per hour. Mission radius is 4480 miles with a weapons load of 10,000 pounds. Many other combinations of load and range are, of course, is possible. The scope is, of course, much larger in-flight refueling.
The B-52 was originally designed for high altitude weapons delivery on target. Like the B-47, however, increased the effectiveness of enemy air defense requires the development of low altitude penetration tactics for high-speed B-52. Again, as the B-47, B-52 has had its share of structural problems of fatigue. To cure these problems, many modifications have been made to the aircraft during his long career.
