A second B-52H Stratofortress is now being modified with a upgraded radar for testing after the first test bomber crashed in June, and work is expected to be completed by the end of the year, officials said July 27.
B-52 modernization
The Rolls-Royce F130 engine, as it will serve on the B-52J, has passed Critical Design Review, the company announced. The CDR happened on time, but the overall program continues to lag original timetables.
Initial operational capability for the B-52J—the new designation for the bomber after extensive re-engining and upgrade programs—won’t be achieved until 2033. The three-year delay is due to issues both with its new engines and new radar, the Government Accountability Office said in a new report.
Collins Aerospace, part of Raytheon Technologies, will upgrade the B-52 bomber’s power generation system, the company said. The improvements are meant to boost the B-52’s range while reducing its carbon footprint.