The US Air Force (USAF) B-52 Stratofortress modernization effort has achieved two key milestones for its engine and radar systems, supporting goals to keep the aircraft operationally relevant through 2050 and beyond.
The modernization effort revolves around upgrading four functions of the 70–plus–year–old airframe: aviate, navigate, communicate, and eliminate.
Under aviate, the B-52J Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP) cleared Milestone B on June 1, moving the engine upgrade into development. CERP replaces the aircraft’s original TF33 engines with Rolls-Royce F130 engines and upgrades critical supporting subsystems.
Meanwhile, the B-52 Radar Modernization Program (RMP) under the effort’s navigate function received authorization to enter low-rate initial production (LRIP) after hitting Milestone C approval on August 21, the USAF announced this month.
It will replace the B-52’s 1980s-era APQ-166 analog radar with the APQ-188 active electronically scanned array radar.
The RMP also awarded LRIP contracts to Raytheon for the radars and to Boeing for aircraft integration kits in August.
Two dedicated test aircraft are scheduled to enter CERP and RMP modifications concurrently at Boeing’s San Antonio facility in the coming months.
Engine Replacement
The CERP has a total acquisition cost of $20.2 billion to cover research and development, testing and evaluation, procurement, and military construction, with $2.6 billion already spent since 2018.
As part of Milestone B activities, detailed structural assessments have been conducted to ensure that the B-52 can support modern engines and other upgrades.
Engineers have also addressed the aircraft’s inlet airflow distortion. Wind-tunnel testing identified the problem, leading to changes to the nacelle and inlet design.
Subsequent testing validated the solution, while Boeing and Rolls-Royce completed the critical design review in May 2026. Engine testing remains underway.
B-52 Modernization
Efforts to modernize the B-52’s “communicate and eliminate” capabilities are also underway, including continued work on Extremely High Frequency terminals and Hybrid SATCOM.
The Stratofortress is also serving as a test platform for hypersonic weapons as it undergoes integration work for the latest variants of the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile.