Eli5 why does the US still use a bomber from the 1950s when they have built two newer ones since then?

Question

Eli5 why does the US still use a bomber from the 1950s when they have built two newer ones since then?

In: 7

Answer 1

Right tool for the right job. B52 carries the payload, does the job and we already have a billion parts for it. It’s been refitted with new stuff for ages now, and it works just fine. That being said, most jobs call for a strike aircraft like the F35 nowadays so we don’t use b52s for anything other than nuclear deterrence