US Unable to Operate Modified B-52s Before 2033
Summary: The latest B-52J variant of the US B-52 Stratofortress aircraft will not be fully operational until 2033 due to delays in the modernization process. The plan to upgrade the aircraft with new engines and navigation systems has faced criticism for lacking formal cost or schedule estimates. Additionally, global supply chain disruptions have forced authorities to cannibalize parts from B-52s to maintain other units, resulting in a 200% increase in cannibalization rates since 2019. Despite being a key component of the US nuclear triad for over six decades, the number of operational B-52 bombers has decreased to less than 80.