Nuclear capable B-52 bombers from the US are being sent to the Middle East to fight ISIS. The huge Stratofortress could begin dropping their deadly payload on Islamic State as early as April, it is reported. It is not clear how many of the bombers or airmen will be sent for tackle the jihadis. The aircraft, which were used in Afghanistan to drop unguided bombs, will be used to provide back up to more precision explosives. They would be the first US bombers drafted in to fight the terror group. The B-52 are nicknamed the 'Big Ugly Fat Fella' or BUFF. They have a payload capacity of 30,000kg, including gravity bombs, cluster bombs, cruise missiles. Lt. Gen. James "Mike" Holmes told the Air Force Times "We're going to keep the B-52 around. It provides some missions for us that are hard to replicate, primarily the range and payload the airplane provides." The Stratofortress was first launched in 1954 and can now fly at speeds of almost 650mph. A single B-52 flew over South Korea on January 10 following reports North Korea conducted a hydrogen bomb test.
