The B-52H Stratofortress, manufactured by Boeing, is a strategic bomber capable of supporting large-scale, global missions in a nuclear or a conventional role. The B-52H plays an important role in these specialized missions until 2035. It had its first flight in April 1952. The B-52H Stratofortress entered service in 1961 and 104 were built. The last was delivered in 1962; however, its service life is expected to continue beyond the year 2030, due to extensive system and structural upgrades.

The B-52H, a B-52 variant, is a very large aircraft, with a length of 159ft 4in and a take-off weight of 488,000lb. The all-metal skin bears a high proportion of the flight loading. When on the ground, the surface of the aircraft on the forward section of the fuselage has a wrinkled appearance. The skin expands and becomes smooth as the crew compartment is pressurised when the aircraft gains altitude.

Later on in the decade, the B-52H was fitted to carry the new "Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)" and "Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW)" guided glide bombs. These weapons use the "Global Positioning System (GPS)" satellite constellation to zero in on target coordinates. Use of the JDAM and other GPS weapons was enabled by yet another Buff avionics upgrade, the "Conventional Enhancement Modification (CEM)" program, which was begun in 1994.