The current version of the B-52 Stratofortress (B52-H) can carry up to 70,000 lbs. of bombs, or 51 conventional 500 lb. bombs. Payload configurations can include other ordinance. These include (but are not limited to) guided bombs, nuclear bombs, cruise missiles with conventional or nuclear warheads, cluster bombs, and Tomahawk missiles. [1]
The B-52 has a combat range of about 8,800 miles without refueling. [2] It can fly at high altitude, and it can travel at just under the speed of sound. It has seen service in most of our foreign conflicts from Vietnam to Iraq, and it has been proven to be an effective combat weapons system.
So, why bring this up? The B-52 is capable of delivering large amounts of conventional bombs with surprising accuracy. One of the problems that has come up in our war with Iran is that our guided “smart” bombs, missiles, and other technologically advanced weapons systems cost a lot of money and take a long time to replace. Although they are incredibly accurate and help keep civilians and civilian infrastructure from being harmed, we are using incredibly expensive technologically advanced air defense and offensive weapons systems to destroy drones, missile launchers, and speed boats that are relatively inexpensive to replace. Our enemy has been able to recover a limited amount of offensive military capability quickly and inexpensively, while we are spending too much for “miracles of modern science” that take a long time to replace.
Reports indicate that our military has been exploring developing simpler and less expensive weapons systems. We respectfully suggest that we may not have fully utilized the capabilities of what we already have.
It is a horrible fact that our enemies use civilians as human shields so that they can limit our ability to strike them … lest we, like the Israelis, get convicted of war crimes in the court of world opinion. This tactic has proven effective over and over – most recently in Gaza. It forces us to try to limit civilian casualties by using precise, technologically advanced weapons.
Here is the beef. Wouldn’t it be better to use our strategic bombers to obliterate any and all military targets with low cost conventional weapons? If doing so would bring the war to an end quickly, wouldn’t that benefit all concerned? Don’t trade sanctions, blockades, and other punitive economic actions cause the common people to suffer more than the ruling class?
The terrain in Yemen is very rugged, and that favors the defender. It is no wonder the Saudis are having difficulty. The matter is made worse because the Houthis are getting outside help from Iran and China. We are able to put the Houthis out of business in short order with repeated doses of 500 lb. bombs.
Bring on the B-52’s.
They may not be the latest thing on the battlefield, but sometimes
time-tested and proven methods are the best.
Let’s get this thing over with.
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