The B-52 (and Tu-95) can stay in the air so long as their is no challenge to air superiority. The last real challenge might have been the Vietnam war for B-52&#x27;s and their SA-2 missiles.  Once real challengers show up, they have to be herded away. Just look at the decimation of B-29&#x27;s over Korea when Mig-15&#x27;s showed up.