U.S. Deploys B-52 Bombers With JASSM Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Strike Iranian Missile Sites.

U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers have participated since the opening phase of Operation Epic Fury, launching AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles against Iranian military infrastructure. The use of long-range standoff weapons allows U.S. forces to strike high-value targets such as missile facilities and command nodes without entering Iranian airspace.

U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers have been active since the early hours of Operation Epic Fury, targeting Iranian military infrastructure with long-range cruise missiles. Video released by U.S. Central Command shows multiple B-52 aircraft departing on strike missions carrying AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, indicating the bombers are conducting precision attacks from outside Iranian airspace. Initial operational reports indicate the aircraft were used during the first 100 hours of the campaign to strike Iranian ballistic missile facilities and command and control nodes, part of a broader effort to degrade Tehran’s missile forces and military coordination capabilities.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber taxis for takeoff on March 2, 2026, in support of Operation Epic Fury, carrying AGM-158 JASSM long-range cruise missiles mounted under its wings. (Picture source: US DoD/ Edited by Army Recognition)

The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range strategic bomber designed to conduct conventional and nuclear strike missions over intercontinental distances. The aircraft has a wingspan of 56.4 meters and a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 220 tons. It is powered by eight Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3/103 turbofan engines, each producing about 17,000 pounds of thrust, enabling a maximum speed close to Mach 0.86 and an operational ceiling above 15,000 meters. Its payload capacity reaches roughly 31,500 kilograms of weapons distributed between an internal weapons bay and external wing pylons. The bomber has an unrefueled range exceeding 7,000 kilometers, allowing it to conduct long-distance strike missions when supported by aerial refueling aircraft. Modernized versions also incorporate the AN/APQ-166 radar for navigation and low-altitude attack as well as digital mission management systems that enable the integration of precision-guided munitions and long-range cruise missiles.

Images released by CENTCOM clearly show several AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) weapons mounted under the wings of the bombers during taxi and takeoff. Developed by Lockheed Martin, the cruise missile is designed to engage heavily defended targets such as command centers, radar installations, or missile-related facilities. The initial AGM-158A version has an operational range of about 370 kilometers. The AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range (JASSM-ER) variant extends this range to roughly 925 kilometers. The missile uses inertial navigation combined with the Global Positioning System (GPS), while an imaging infrared seeker identifies the target during the terminal phase. Its reduced radar signature and low-altitude flight profile improve its ability to penetrate modern air defense systems.

The B-52H Stratofortress serves as a launch platform capable of carrying large numbers of these weapons. The aircraft can carry up to twenty JASSM missiles using an internal rotary launcher together with external wing pylons. The AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) is designed to strike defended targets while reducing the exposure of the launch platform. The missile is approximately 4.27 meters long and has a total weight of about 1,020 kilograms. It carries a WDU-42/B penetrating warhead weighing around 450 kilograms designed to destroy hardened structures such as bunkers or underground command facilities.

The missile is powered by a Williams International F107-WR-105 turbofan engine and flies at subsonic speed following a low-altitude penetration profile. Its navigation combines an inertial system and the Global Positioning System (GPS), while an imaging infrared seeker provides target identification during the final stage of flight. The missile airframe incorporates shaping and materials intended to reduce radar signature and increase the probability of penetrating modern air defense networks.

Footage released by CENTCOM also illustrates the scale of the weapons load carried by the aircraft. Multiple AGM-158 missiles can be seen mounted under the wings, highlighting the B-52’s role as a launch platform capable of delivering large numbers of precision weapons in a single sortie. The press release accompanying the video states that these bombers are tasked with striking Iranian ballistic missile facilities and command centers coordinating those forces at the national level. Many of these targets are protected by hardened structures or positioned close to integrated air defense systems.

Conducting standoff strikes reflects the operational environment surrounding the campaign. AGM-158 missiles are launched from outside Iranian airspace rather than during direct attacks over the territory. This approach reduces the exposure of aircraft to Iranian air defense systems. Iran operates S-300PMU-2 surface-to-air missile batteries supplied by Russia along with domestically developed radar networks and interceptor missiles. Once launched, JASSM missiles follow low-altitude trajectories toward their targets, making detection and interception more difficult.

The operation also illustrates how the United States employs its entire strategic bomber fleet, combining the stealth characteristics of the B-2 Spirit, the speed and payload capacity of the B-1B Lancer, and the long-range strike role of the B-52 Stratofortress to maintain sustained strike pressure while exploiting the distinct operational characteristics of each platform.