[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence photo] The Majesty of the US Strategic Bomber B-52

by Yang Nakgyu

Published 17 Oct.2023 14:57(KST)

Updated 17 Oct.2023 15:13(KST)

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Celebration Flight with KF-21 Leading Alongside F-22 and Others

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The U.S. strategic bomber B-52, capable of nuclear armament, landed for the first time at a domestic air force base on the 17th.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, the B-52 participated in a celebratory flight with the Republic of Korea Air Force's special flight team, the Black Eagles, and the Australian aerobatic team at Seongnam Seoul Airport in the morning to celebrate the opening of the aerospace and defense industry exhibition, ‘Seoul ADEX 2023’.

Following this, a ‘ROK-U.S. Combined Air Power Celebration Flight’ featuring the KF-21, unveiled to the public for the first time at ADEX, took place. The KF-21 led the flight, accompanied by the U.S. strategic bomber B-52 ‘Stratofortress,’ the world’s most powerful stealth fighter F-22, the domestically produced advanced trainer T-50, and the U.S. reconnaissance aircraft U-2, showcasing the combined air power of South Korea and the U.S. in a demonstration flight.

Although the B-52, a representative strategic bomber owned by the U.S. military, has frequently conducted joint exercises with the Republic of Korea Air Force over the Korean Peninsula, this is the first time it has landed at a domestic air force base. After participating in the ADEX opening ceremony celebratory flight, the B-52 landed at Cheongju Air Force Base.

The B-52 is considered one of the three major U.S. strategic bombers alongside the B-1B Lancer and B-2. The so-called ‘Death Swan’ B-1B previously landed at Osan Air Base in 2016. Since then, the U.S. has announced plans for strategic bombers to land on the Korean Peninsula.

In April, Kenneth Wilsbach, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces, stated in an interview with Japanese media that as a response to ballistic missile launches, "Our (U.S.) bombers regularly operate in and around the Korean Peninsula and will probably land on the Korean Peninsula as well." The Pacific Air Forces Commander oversees the operation and command of fighters and bombers in the Indo-Pacific region.

The reason U.S. strategic bombers have not landed on the Korean Peninsula until now is that the missiles they carry have such long ranges that they can complete strike missions without needing to land in South Korea. It takes a minimum of four hours to reach South Korean airspace from Guam, so there is no need to stay in South Korea for several days to carry out missions. Deploying for several days in South Korea would also require moving armed personnel and support staff, which would incur significant costs.

The B-52 long-range bomber is a formidable weapon capable of striking North Korea’s command facilities from a distance of 3,000 km. The deployed B-52 can carry up to 27 tons of bombs and fly over 6,400 km to conduct bombing missions and return, enabling it to perform solo missions. Additionally, it is equipped with the devastating ‘bunker buster’ bomb (GBU-57), designed to penetrate deep underground and destroy subterranean caves. This bomb is used in wartime to target North Korean leadership, including Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, who is believed to be in underground facilities.

Measuring 48 meters in length, 56.4 meters in wingspan, and weighing 221.35 tons, the B-52 has a maximum range of 16,000 km. It can operate at a maximum altitude of 55,000 feet, allowing for high-altitude penetration, and can carry 35 conventional 2,000-pound (approximately 907 kg) bombs and 12 cruise missiles. Initially, it only carried nuclear and conventional bombs, but through upgrades, it now also carries air-launched cruise missiles and nuclear-tipped air-to-ground missiles.