Boeing will begin engine modification of the first B-52 Stratofortress later this year after the effort passed a critical design review, marking a key milestone in the US Air Force’s long-term modernization program.
The Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP) centers on replacing the bomber’s 1960s-era TF33 engines with modern, fuel-efficient F130 powerplants from Rolls-Royce.
The upgrade also introduces new subsystems, including a modern generator for each engine, significantly boosting the aircraft’s electrical power capacity to support future capabilities.
“This CERP critical design review is the culmination of an enormous amount of engineering and integration work from Boeing, Rolls-Royce, and the Air Force that will enable the B-52J to remain in the fight for future generations,” Bombers Directorate CERP Program Manager, Lt. Col. Tim Cleaver, said.
“It’s that point that you go from having a concept turned into a design, to then turning that design into something physical—something that we will test and field for Air Force Global Strike Command,” Cleaver stated.
The first two aircraft will be converted to the B-52J configuration at Boeing’s San Antonio, Texas, facility.
The aircraft will then be flown to Edwards Air Force Base for testing and validation of the upgraded systems.
Once testing is complete, the remaining 74 aircraft in the fleet will undergo the same modification process.
B-52 Upgrade
The engine replacement is part of a wider effort to modernize the US Air Force’s fleet of B-52H aircraft to the B-52J configuration, integrating upgraded radar, communications, and navigation systems.
The new engines are expected to extend the aircraft’s service life by up to three decades, while the radar upgrade will enhance multi-mode sensing capabilities — including synthetic aperture radar, ground-moving target indication, and air-to-air detection — while improving range and maintainability.
As part of the modernization, the legacy AN/APQ-166 radar will be replaced by the AN/APQ-188 active electronically scanned array radar, derived from the AN/APG-79 used on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and incorporating features from the AN/APG-82 fielded on the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15EX Eagle II.
Beyond the engine and radar upgrades, the B-52J program also includes structural improvements and a new suite of electronics, displays, navigation, and avionics.
