O strategic bomber B-52 Stratofortress began to be routinely used in missions over Iran, as confirmed this Tuesday (31) by the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine.
The aircraft, of nuclear capabilitycame into operation after the advance of American air superiority in the country. “We managed to start the first missions with the B-52, which allows us to advance on the enemy,” said the general.
Symbol of US air supremacy
Manufactured by Boeing, the B-52 is considered the United States Air Force’s most iconic bomber. The original model came into operation in 1955, at the height of the Cold War, as part of the American nuclear deterrence strategy. Since then, the aircraft has gone through several versions – from B-52A to B-52G –, each receiving structural, performance and armament improvements.
The current variant, the B-52H Stratofortress, entered service in 1961 and is the only one still in active operation. According to Boeing, “The B-52 is the most combat capable aircraft in the American inventory, offering nuclear and conventional immediate global strike capabilities.”
The aircraft has a wingspan of 56 meters, can carry up to 31.5 tonnes of weaponry – including cruise missiles, smart bombs and mines – and fly at speeds of up to 1,046 km/h. Its flight range exceeds 14 thousand kilometers, a limit that can be increased with aerial refueling, which allows it to carry out intercontinental missions without the need for landing.
Over 60 years of active service
The US Air Force maintains 76 B-52H units in operation, distributed between the bases in Barksdale, Louisiana, and Minot, North Dakota.
“The B-52s remain an essential element of the United States’ national security strategy,” Boeing states on its official website.
The current model should remain in use until at least 2050, after successive upgrades to navigation, communication and weapons systems. During its trajectory, versions of the B-52 participated in several military campaigns, including the Vietnam, Gulf and Iraq wars, as well as missions against the Islamic State in Syria. Its performance in attack and air support missions led the Pentagon to call it the “backbone” of American strategic capabilities.
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B-52 flew over Venezuela in 2025
The use of the B-52 in Iran is nothing new in Trump’s foreign policy. In October 2025, three strategic bomber units were spotted near Venezuelan airspace, amid escalating tensions with the Nicolás Maduro regime.
The appearance of the aircraft was read as a show of strength by the American government in the region — part of an intensification of the US military presence in the Caribbean under the argument of combating drug trafficking and preventing the flow of drugs on American soil.
The episode highlights how the B-52 has been used by the Trump administration as a deterrent tool on different fronts: first in the Caribbean, now routinely over Iranian territory.
