The Air Force’s program to re-engine the B-52H Stratofortress has moved from its technology maturation and risk reduction phase to engineering and manufacturing development, marking a new milestone in the sweeping overhaul of the Cold War-era bomber, a top official said Sept. 15.
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The Air Force’s plan to start production on a new engine for the B-52H Stratofortress before conducting critical flight tests runs the risk of cost overruns and more schedule delays, government auditors said in a new report released July 31.
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.
By Stephen Losey The B-52H Stratofortress that crashed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on June 15 was testing a new radar planned as part of a major renovation of the six-decade old bomber. The cause of the crash remains...
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.
Initial planning has begun for the retirement of the B-1 and B-2 bombers, but the game plan depends largely on progress in fielding the B-21 Raider—and on Congress—the Air Force’s bomber program executive officer said. In an Air Force bomber roadmap from 2018, the service ...
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Forty years since the Air Force first started thinking about replacing the eight engines on the B-52, the job is finally underway. The re-engining is the centerpiece of an upgrade that will keep the Stratofortress operationally relevant for another 20 to 30 years. Two new F130 ...
Rolls-Royce North America CEO Tom Bell chalks up the company's win of the B-52 commercial re-engining program to a comprehensive digital model of the bomber's wing, demonstrating how its F130 engine would give the best performance.
The Air Force Association’s 2021 Air, Space & Cyber Conference; Kendall on China; Raymond on the Space Force; New B-52 Engines; and more ...
Rolls-Royce North America has prevailed in the Air Force's three-year competition to re-engine the nearly-60-year-old B-52H fleet of 76 aircraft, winning a contract worth up to $2.6 billion if all options are exercised. The engines are to be fully installed by 2038 and are meant ...