The fact that expensive heavy bombers fall so often raises doubts about the U.S. Air Force's battle readiness in general.

In February 2008 a Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber crashed shortly after takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. In April a Rockwell-Boeing B-1B Lancer strategic bomber exploded after landing at the al-Udeid Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.

Even though the immediate cause for the crash of the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress has not been named yet, it is likely to have something to do with its venerable age. These planes went into mass production in 1953-1963, and Boeing B-52H planes entered operational service in 1960-1963, making their average age about 47 years.

The Boeing B-52 has been modernized repeatedly, but the modernization that improved the plane's equipment and weapons could not give new life to the worn-out superstructure, while capital repairs can prolong the life of the plane but not make it immortal. At the same time, however, the Boeing B-52 is not on the way out as a combat vehicle, because there is no adequate substitute available. Indeed, it is likely to stay in service up to the 2040s.

This seems absurd, especially when the United States has developed several types of strategic bombers to replace the Boeing B-52. Its first attempt was the XB-70 Valkyrie, but this supersonic bomber turned out to be too expensive and the program was canceled.

The second was the B-1A bomber developed in the 1960s and 1970s. However, by the late '70s this plane, which was equipped only with bombs, seemed to be obsolete. Instead, the United States started developing the B-1B. But even the modernized version could not carry ALCM long-range standoff attack missiles, but only shorter-range SRAM missiles.

As a result, the Boeing B-52H equipped with long-range missiles remained the main strategic workhorse of the U.S. Air Force. Moreover, in accordance with the Soviet-American agreements on nuclear weapon reduction, the B-1B lost its SRAM missiles, which were eliminated, and since then has been carrying only bombs, although the United States is planning to bring into service the new JASSM cruise missile.

The last strategic bomber to be developed was the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, which went into production in the beginning of the 1990s. But this replacement for the Boeing B-52 turned out to be too expensive even for the American budget -- one aircraft cost about $1.5 billion. As a result, the United States produced only 20 Northrop-Grumman B-2 Spirits and kept the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress in service.

At this moment there is no alternative to the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. It is the only aircraft that can fulfill all the tasks of strategic aviation, from carpet-bombing to strikes on well-protected targets using long-range high-accuracy missiles. The development of a new aircraft that would replace all these planes is in the pre-design stage. Taking into account the terms and the cost of modern planes, it is possible that the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, like its Russian counterpart, the turboprop-powered Tupolev Tu-95 Bear, will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its operational service. We don't have to wait long -- only until 2055.

(Ilya Kramnik is a military commentator for RIA Novosti. This article is reprinted by permission of RIA Novosti. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.)

(United Press International's "Outside View" commentaries are written by outside contributors who specialize in a variety of important issues. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of United Press International. In the interests of creating an open forum, original submissions are invited.)

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