U.S. Central Command confirmed that a fleet of B-52s was used to target ballistic missile and commander control posts in Iran.
The upgrades to the B-52's engines and numerous other systems are so dramatic the Air Force plans to redesignate the Cold War-era bomber the B-52J.
The new AESA radar is a major part of the U.S. Air Force's plan to thoroughly revamp the venerable B-52, and extend its life into at least the 2050s.
Video of the aftermath of the near-miss was widely shared online, and the Air Force has now released its timeline of the incident.
