I think the US considered using ICBMs to deliver conventional strikes (and in fact they didn&#x27;t even contain a warhead - just the kinetic energy of the missile was enough), but decided against it as they couldn&#x27;t be differentiated from a nuclear strike by early warning systems.<p>As for drones - the B-52s are very long range aren&#x27;t they? As in they take off from the US to strike in the middle east or anywhere else? Can any drone do that? So if you don&#x27;t have a drone in theatre, it can&#x27;t replace what the B-52 does.