The last B-52 built rolled off the Boeing Wichita line on 26 October 1962. The Tu-95H began production in 1981. Those who dismiss the capabilities of the Bear and the possible threat they could pose are simply ignorant.
aBUT HOW MANY UPGRADES HAVE BEEN DONE TO THE b=52 SINCE THEN....AND SINCE WHEN DID WE THINK OF b-52’S AS A DEFENSE AGAINST bEARS. I think we have sufficient defenses to handle any strategic bomber.
For those of us who had an occasion to set watch on the old WLR-1 in CIC (Navy talk for electronic surveillance equipment), we could tell that a Bear D had taken off from anywhere in the USSR after it reached 50 feet off the tarmac. No secrets given here, information about the WLR-1 can be found with a simple Internet search.
I don’t downplay the treat in anyway, but unless they have improved their capabilities, we will know where they are and can counter them with ease anytime we want.
The B-52 has been upgraded many times and is a fully modern aircraft. We also have the B-1 and the B-2.
Of course, if Russia was really going to do a surprise attack, I suspect SLBMs would be the way to go.
After 15 years of little or no maintenance, demoralized crews and fuel shortages during that time those 14 TU-95s are not much of a threat. Our B-52s have been constantly upgraded and flown by real professionals. No comparison.
The Russians may be lucky to fly one mission and get home. We will not ignore them, but our current air defenses can take them out.