Aerospace

USAF begins removing nuclear role from some B-52 bombers

The US Air Force (USAF) has begun converting nearly half of its Boeing B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers to the conventional role only, in line with the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) signed with Russia in April 2010, the service announced on 17 September.

Conversion of the first (serial number 61-1021) of 30 operational aircraft into non-nuclear-capable platforms was completed at Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB) in Louisiana over the previous weeks.

The USAF's B-52 fleet currently comprises 76 operational platforms, which are controlled by the Air Force Global Strike command (AFGSC) headquartered at Barksdale AFB. A further 12 non-operational B-52H bombers are stored at the 'boneyard' at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona, and these will also be converted (94 B-52G platforms in the boneyard are slated for disposal).