One of the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress bombers, which left this Monday morning from Minot Air Base, North Dakota, arrived near Aruba at 6:05 pm, off the Paraguaná Peninsula, in Venezuelaafter a long trip in which he passed through New Orleans and Cancún. Off these coasts it made turns and remained flying over the area for more than half an hour. Then he went to near Puerto Cumarebo, in the state of Falcón, according to records from flightradar24to then approach Caracas and continue towards Puerto La Cruz.
The Boeing B-52H Stratofortress bomber was accompanied on its journey by a Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, a fourth-generation, twin-engine, multi-role combat aircraft developed by Boeing from the original F/A-18 Hornet. It was designed to replace aircraft such as the A-6 Intruder and the F-14 Tomcat, is prepared for aircraft carrier operations and has the “F/A” designation for its fighter and attack capabilities.
According to United States Air Forcethe B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range heavy bomber capable of carrying out various missions: “It is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes up to 15,166.6 meters (50,000 feet). It can carry nuclear or conventional precision-guided munitions, with global precision navigation capabilities.”
“In a conventional conflict, the B-52 can conduct strategic strikes, close air support, air interdiction, offensive anti-aircraft and maritime operations,” he notes.
“During Desert Storm, B-52s delivered 40% of all weapons launched by coalition forces. Their use is very effective for ocean surveillance and can assist the US Navy in anti-ship and mine operations. In two hours, two B-52s can monitor 364,000 square kilometers (140,000 square miles) of ocean surface,” he adds.
What the B-52 bombers can do
All B-52s can be equipped with two electro-optical vision sensors, a forward-facing infrared and advanced guidance modules to optimize targeting, battle assessment and flight safety, further enhancing their combat capability.
Pilots use night vision goggles (NVG) to improve their vision during night operations. These glasses provide increased safety during night operations by increasing the pilot’s ability to visually clear terrain, increasing the crew’s peacetime and combat situation awareness, and improving their ability to visually detect other aircraft.
For more than 60 years, the B-52 has been the backbone of the US strategic bomber force, according to the US Air Force website: “The B-52 is capable of delivering the widest range of weapons in the US inventory. This includes gravity bombs, cluster bombs, precision guided missiles and joint direct attack munitions.”
“Updated with modern technology, the B-52 is capable of carrying the full range of jointly developed weapons and will continue into the 21st century as an important element of our nation’s defenses. The Air Force currently expects to operate B-52s until 2050,” it adds.
