The **Boeing B-52 Stratofortress** is an American long-range, subsonic, jet-powered [strategic bomber](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_bomber). The B-52 was designed and built by [Boeing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing), which has continued to provide support and upgrades. It has been operated by the [United States Air Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force) (USAF) since the 1950s. The bomber is capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) of weapons, and has a typical combat range of more than 8,800 miles (14,080 km) without aerial refueling.

Beginning with the successful contract bid in June 1946, the B-52 design evolved from a [straight wing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_wing) aircraft powered by six [turboprop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turboprop) engines to the final prototype YB-52 with eight [turbojet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbojet) engines and [swept wings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swept_wing). The B-52 took its [maiden flight](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiden_flight) in April 1952. Built to carry [nuclear weapons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapons) for [Cold War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War)\-era [deterrence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_strategy) missions, the B-52 Stratofortress replaced the [Convair B-36](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convair_B-36). A veteran of several wars, the B-52 has dropped only [conventional munitions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conventional_weapon) in combat. The B-52’s official name *Stratofortress* is rarely used; informally, the aircraft has become commonly referred to as the *BUFF* (Big Ugly Fat Fella)

The B-52 has been in service with the USAF since 1955. As of June 2019, 58 are in active service, 18 in reserve, and approximately 12 more aircraft in long-term storage. The bombers flew under the [Strategic Air Command](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Air_Command) (SAC) until it was disestablished in 1992 and its aircraft absorbed into the [Air Combat Command](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Combat_Command) (ACC); in 2010, all B-52 Stratofortresses were transferred from the ACC to the newly created [Air Force Global Strike Command](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_Global_Strike_Command) (AFGSC). Superior performance at high subsonic speeds and relatively low operating costs have kept them in service despite the advent of later, more advanced strategic bombers, including the Mach 2+ [B-58 Hustler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convair_B-58_Hustler), the canceled Mach 3 [B-70 Valkyrie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_XB-70_Valkyrie), the [variable-geometry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable-sweep_wing) [B-1 Lancer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockwell_B-1_Lancer), and the stealth [B-2 Spirit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit). The B-52 completed sixty years of continuous service with its original operator in 2015. After being upgraded between 2013 and 2015, the last airplanes are expected to serve into the 2050s.