American B-52 Stratofortress nuclear bombers visited the region where Russia had launched several supersonic P-270 Mosquito missiles (NATO codified SS-N-22 Sunburn). They were accompanied by Japanese fighters.
On March 28, 2023, the Russian Navy tested supersonic cruise anti-ship missiles P-270 Moskit in the Sea of Japan. They successfully hit a target at a distance of approximately 100 km.
Two days later, the US Air Force sent two B-52H Stratofortress nuclear bombers to the region. They were accompanied by Japanese F-15 Eagle and Mitsubishi F-2 fighters.
The US Air Force has begun to deploy B-52H Stratofortresses more frequently to deter adversaries in unstable regions. In particular, in early March, the strategic bomber took part in joint exercises between the United States and the Republic of Korea against the backdrop of nuclear and missile threats from the DPRK.
The B-52 was created in the 1950s. The combat range of the aircraft reaches 14,000 km without air refueling. The maximum payload is 32 tons. The US Air Force wants to modernize the Stratofortress and use it together with the new generation B-21 Raider bomber.
For this purpose, Rolls-Royce will develop a new F130 engine. The powerplant will extend the life of the B-52H by 30 years, i.e. until the 2050s. The first tests of the engine took place about a month ago at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Center in Mississippi.
