As the U.S. gears up for long-term competition with Russia and China, there is increasing discussion about enhancing America's nuclear capabilities.
Reconfigure to Carry Nuclear Weapons
One notable proposal involves reconfiguring 30 B-52 Stratofortress bombers to carry nuclear weapons once again, according to Tech.
The B-52s, originally produced from 1952 to 1962, were designed for nuclear strikes against the Soviet Union.
Over the years, they have been adapted to carry conventional munitions, especially during the Vietnam War. Currently, the U.S. Air Force operates 76 B-52H models, but only 46 are equipped to handle nuclear arms.
The remaining 30 were stripped of this capability a decade ago under the New START treaty with Russia, which is set to expire in 2026.
Managable Modification
With deteriorating U.S.-Russia relations and the potential for a renewed arms race, some U.S. lawmakers are pushing for a $4.5 million budget allocation in the next fiscal year to restore the nuclear capability of these bombers.
The proposed plan aims to begin modifications a month after the New START treaty ends, with completion projected by 2029. Air Force officials believe this timeline is feasible and that the conversion can be integrated into routine maintenance.
However, there are critics of this plan. Some argue that expanding the U.S. nuclear arsenal could complicate future arms control negotiations and disrupt other planned upgrades for the B-52s, such as new engines intended to extend their service life into the mid-21st century.
Despite these concerns, Air Force representatives view the modification as manageable within existing service schedules.
The B-52s originally carried free-fall nuclear bombs, but today they are primarily equipped with AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCMs), which can strike from beyond the range of modern air defenses.
These missiles, developed in the early 1980s, are being phased out in favor of the new AGM-181A Long Range Stand-Off (LRSO) missiles in the future.
