Click to see full-size image. (U.S. Air Force)
American B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers have been attacking targets in Iran using long-range land-attack cruise missiles, in a sign that the United States Air Force has not yet achieved aerial superiority over Iran.
The subsonic jet-powered bombers joined the war few days after the American-Israeli opening strikes, which were on February 28, and in two video footage released by the United States Central Command on March 5 and 7, they appeared to be armed with AGM-158 JASSM missiles, most likely the extended range version AGM-158B JASSM-ER.
The B-52 can carry up to 32,000 kg of weapons and has a typical combat range of around 14,200 kilometers without aerial refueling.
One bomber outfitted with the 1760 Internal Weapons Bay Upgrade can carry 20 JASSM-ERs, eight internally and 12 on external pylons. This is most likely the configuration being used for strikes against Iran.
The AGM-158A is powered by a Teledyne CAE J402 turbojet. Before launch the wings are folded to reduce size. Upon launch the wings deploy automatically. There is a single vertical tail.
Guidance is via inertial navigation with GPS updates. An imaging infrared seeker provides target recognition and terminal homing. A data link allows the missile to transmit its location and status during flight, which improves bomb damage assessment. The warhead is a WDU-42/B penetrator, which weighs 450 kg.
Unlike typical cruise missiles, which fly close to the ground to avoid detection, the JASSM’s stealthy design allows it to fly at higher altitudes to achieve long flight ranges without using up energy maneuvering around terrain obstacles. The range of the JASSM-ER is reported to be over 926 kilometers.
B-52 bombers are typically employed to drop guided or unguided bombs directly over hardened targets. Their use as cruise missile launchers even days after the start of the war indicate that the U.S. The Air Force has not yet achieved aerial superiority over Iran.
Speaking during a press briefing on March 4, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted that military superiority is “quickly giving” the U.S. control of Iranian airspace, but cautioned that this could take several more days to achieve.
“Starting last night and to be completed in a few days, in under a week, the two most powerful Air Forces in the world will have complete control of Iranian skies, uncontested airspace,” he said.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said during the press briefing that CENTCOM has established localized air superiority across the southern flank of the Iranian coast and penetrated their defenses with overwhelming precision and firepower.
While the U.S. and Israel have largely succeeded in targeting the upper tiers of Iran’s air defense network, the Islamic Republic is likely still in possession of medium-range air defense systems that could threaten B-52 bombers, even more so than faster and smaller fighter jets. This threat will likely remain present for the entirety of the war.
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