Original vintage 1980s ITT Defense advertisement for their electronic counter-measures suite for the United States Air Forces (USAF) B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber airframe, "Keep'em Flying - With the help of ITT's AN/ALQ-172 ECM System, the B-52 is still a major force in America's Strategic Air Operations"
Dimensions: Roughly 8 inches wide by 11 inches high.
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
The B-52 airframe is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the USAF. It's a massive, iconic aircraft first entering service in 1955 and still in use today, with plans to keep it flying until at least the 2050s. The B-52 is known for its durability and versatility, having participated in numerous conflicts and evolving through continuous upgrades.
The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, which has continued to provide support and upgrades. It has been operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) since 1955 and was flown by NASA from 1959 to 2007. The bomber can carry up to 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) of weapons and has a typical combat range of around 8,800 miles (14,200 km) without aerial refueling.
After Boeing won the initial contract in June 1946, the aircraft's design evolved from a straight-wing aircraft powered by six turboprop engines to the final prototype YB-52 with eight turbojet engines and swept wings. The B-52 took its maiden flight in April 1952.
Built to carry nuclear weapons for Cold War deterrence missions, the B-52 Stratofortress replaced the Convair B-36 Peacemaker. The bombers flew under the Strategic Air Command (SAC) until it was disestablished in 1992 and its aircraft absorbed into the Air Combat Command (ACC); in 2010, all B-52s were transferred to the new Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC).
The B-52's official name Stratofortress is rarely used; informally, the aircraft is commonly referred to as the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat Fucker/Fella). Superior performance at high subsonic speeds and relatively low operating costs have kept them in service despite the development of more advanced strategic bombers, such as the Mach-2+ Convair B-58 Hustler, the canceled Mach-3 North American XB-70 Valkyrie, the variable-geometry Rockwell B-1 Lancer, and the stealthy Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit. A veteran of several wars, the B-52 has dropped only conventional munitions in combat.
As of 2024, the U.S. Air Force has 76 B-52s: 58 operated by active forces (2nd Bomb Wing and 5th Bomb Wing), 18 by reserve forces (307th Bomb Wing), and about 12 in long-term storage at the Davis-Monthan AFB Boneyard. The operational aircraft received upgrades between 2013 and 2015 and are expected to serve into the 2050s.
ITT Defense
ITT Inc., formerly ITT Corporation (and ITT Defense), is an American worldwide manufacturing company based in Stamford, Connecticut. The company produces specialty components for the aerospace, transportation, energy and industrial markets. ITT's three businesses include Industrial Process, Motion Technologies, and Connect and Control Technologies.
ITT has over 10,000 employees in more than 35 countries and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company's long-standing brands include Goulds Pumps, Cannon connectors, KONI shock absorbers and Enidine energy absorption components.
The company was founded in 1920 as International Telephone & Telegraph. During the 1960s and 1970s, under the leadership of CEO Harold Geneen, the company rose to prominence as the archetypal conglomerate, deriving its growth from hundreds of acquisitions in diversified industries.
In 2011, ITT spun off its defense businesses into a company named Exelis (now part of L3Harris Technologies), and its water technology business into a company named Xylem Inc. ITT Corporation changed its name to ITT Inc. in 2016.