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In the event of an emergency, means for crew escape is provided by upward ejection seats for those on the upper deck and downward ejection seats for those on the lower deck. All crew stations are pressurized, heated, and air-conditioned. On a lower deck beneath the pilots' compartment are seated the navigator and radar navigator. The two prototype aircraft had the pilots seated in a tandem arrangement similar to that of the B-47. Pilot and co-pilot are side by side on the upper flight deck near the nose, in a manner similar to a commercial transport, along with the electronic warfare officer (EWO), seated behind the pilot facing aft. It has an unrefueled combat range in excess of 8,800 miles (14,080 kilometers).Ĭurrent B-52H crew size is five. The use of aerial refueling gives the B-52 a range limited only by crew endurance. However, the AGM-28 pylon is no longer used, so the B-52 currently carries on HSABs, limiting the external load to 18 bombs, or a total of 45 bombs. So the B-52 can carry a maximum of either 51 or 45 munitions, depending on which pylon is mounted under the wings. A third type pylon is used for carrying ALCMs/CALCMs/ACMs.However, each HSAB can carry only 9 weapons which decreases the total carry to 45 (18 external). Heavy Stores Adaptor Beam external pylon can carry heavier weapons rated up.With the carriage of 27 internal weapons, the total is 51. The AGM-28 pylon can carry lighter weapons like the MK-82 and can carryġ2 weapons on each pylon, for a total of 24 external weapons.The B-52 can carry different kinds of external pylons under its wings. The B-52H was designed for nuclear standoff, but it now has the conventional warfare mission role with the retirement of the B-52G's. All aircraft are being modified to carry the AGM-142 Raptor missile and AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile. Starting in 1989, an on-going modification incorporates the global positioning system, heavy stores adaptor beams for carrying 2,000 pound munitions and additional smart weapons capability. Two B-52s, in two hours, can monitor 140,000 square miles (364,000 square kilometers) of ocean surface. Navy in anti-ship and mine-laying operations. It is highly effective when used for ocean surveillance, and can assist the U.S. During Desert Storm, B-52s delivered 40 percent of all the weapons dropped by coalition forces. In a conventional conflict, the B-52H can perform air interdiction, offensive counter-air and maritime operations. Surface-to-air missiles as well as combat with enemy aircraft were always a possibility in the target area.ĭuring the Vietnam War the "Big Belly" modification of the B-52Ds to carry conventional bombs increased the internal bomb bay load from 27 to 84 bombs, and added modified underwing bomb racks to carry 24 bombs, resulting in a maximum payload of 60,000 pounds of bombs - a total of 108 bombs. Total mission times were in the order of 16 to 18 hours. From Guam to the area of conflict involved a round-trip flight of nearly 5000 miles. Operating from bases on the island of Guam, many thousands of tons of conventional bombs were dropped on targets in North Vietnam. It served with distinction, however, during the Vietnam conflict. The B-52 has never been called upon to deliver a nuclear weapon upon an enemy target. The Hound Dog is really a small jet-powered airplane with a range of up to 700 miles and a maximum speed of over Mach 2. Two Hound Dog missiles were mounted under the wings of the B-52H. Four Skybolt ballistic missiles were mounted on the wings of the B-52H, though this missile was not put into production. The B-52 can carry a wide assortment of offensive weapons including conventional "iron bombs," nuclear bombs, and a variety of missiles such as the ALCM (air-launched cruise missile) and the SCRAM (short-range attack missile).