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Boeing B-52 Stratofortress: the replacements.

Article Excerpt
The B-52 has proven hard to replace, but certainly not for lack of trying. As mentioned, its envisioned successor, the Mach 3 North American B-70 Valkyrie, ran into the political quagmire surrounding Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and never stood a chance.

After canceling the Valkyrie in December 1965, McNamara announced that the General Dynamics FB-111A would replace the B-52C, D, E, and F-models by mid-1971. However, reality demanded a conventional heavy bomber remain in the force, and the last of the tall-tail B-52Ds did not retire until 1983, leaving only the 'Improved' B-52G/Hs in service. Many alternative strategic deterrence platforms were investigated, including jumbo jets armed with cruise or ballistic missiles, and a variety of manned aircraft designs. Eventually, 100 B-1Bs and 21 B-2As would enter service to supplement, but not supplant, the seemingly irreplaceable Improved B-52s.

General Dynamics FB-111

There was a certain amount of confusion when McNamara selected the FB-111A as the replacement for the early model B-52s and B-58. The Air Force was not...

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