Documents
United States Boeing
B-52H Stratofortress
Long-range subsonic strategic bomber that has served the U.S. Air Force since the Cold War, prized for its enormous payload and range. Upgrades keep the airframe flying into the 2050s with new engines and radar planned.
In service since 1961 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
1,047
km/h
14,162
km range
15,000
m ceiling
31,500
kg payload
💲 ≈ $84,000,000, Approximate historical unit cost
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 1961. Status: active · ~744 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
$210M – $294M
Acquisition is only ~30% of lifecycle cost, operating & support dominate over ~35 yrs. Rough 2.5–3.5× the unit price. How we estimate this →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the B-52H Stratofortress can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 1,047 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 819 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 14,162 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 15,000 m |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts. | 8 |
|---|---|
| Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie. | 31,500 kg |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 48.5 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 56.4 m |
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 12.4 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 83,250 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 220,000 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 5 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3/103 turbofan |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 8 |
| Thrust Total engine thrust (with afterburner where applicable). | 76 kN |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turbofan |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Radar Primary radar. AESA (active electronically scanned array) is the current state of the art. | AN/APQ-166 |
|---|---|
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | AN/ASQ-151 EVS |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $84,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 744 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
Specifications compiled from public Boeing and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Tupolev Tu-160 
Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) H-6K Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress? +
The Boeing B-52H Stratofortress has a maximum speed of 1,047 km/h.
What is the range of the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress? +
The Boeing B-52H Stratofortress has a maximum range of 14,162 km.
What is the weapons payload of the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress? +
The Boeing B-52H Stratofortress can carry up to 31,500 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress weigh? +
The Boeing B-52H Stratofortress has a combat weight of 220,000 kg.
How many crew does the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress require? +
The Boeing B-52H Stratofortress requires a crew of 5.
What engine does the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress use? +
The Boeing B-52H Stratofortress is powered by the Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3/103 turbofan.
What is the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress used for? +
The Boeing B-52H Stratofortress is a bomber typically used for deep strike.
How many countries operate the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress? +
The Boeing B-52H Stratofortress is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress cost? +
The Boeing B-52H Stratofortress has an approximate unit cost of 84,000,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
Similar systems
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B-1B Lancer
Northrop Grumman
B-2 Spirit
Northrop Grumman
B-21 Raider
Tupolev
Tu-95MS
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