Skip Navigation

NonCredibleDefense @sh.itjust.works

CDRMITTENS @sh.itjust.works

9mo ago

the curse of the strategic bomber that refuses to be retired is not USA-exclusive.

18 comments

Well basically we have rockets now. If we want to use more advanced technology we use that, or drones.
When we need bombs those old ones still do their job.
- Excuse me, this is NCD. I'm gonna need you to dumb that answer down and make it substantially less factual.
  
  Ever try to fuck a drone?

BUFF WILL LIVE FOREVER
- Buff and Franklin!

Russia is still flying the Tu-95. I think it's the champion here.
- if you consider H-6 a variant of Tu-16, then all three had first flight in 1952
  
  True, but in the case of a tie I would still give the victory to the Tu-95 because it has propellers.

Turns out stealth bombers are expensive and large super fast bombers are expensive and not much better. So we just keep ticking the old frames over while we slowly build up generations of stealth bombers.
For what it's worth the B52 will eventually get phased out by the B21. I think they just want some of that savings from not running so many different airframes.
- The question is will the B52 make it over the century mark?
  
  I wouldn't be surprised if they keep a few flying just to say they made it past 100. The plan for retirement is already pretty close to 100 years.

Strategic bombers a not real, they don't exist!

Grandpa Buff and Franklin for President

18 comments