The US Air Force has awarded contracts worth more than $766 million to Raytheon and Boeing under the B-52 Radar Modernization Program, advancing efforts to equip the long-serving strategic bomber with improved sensors, weapons infrastructure, and other capabilities expected to support operations through 2050 and beyond.
Under a $603-million indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract, Raytheon will manufacture the AN/APQ-188 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which will replace the B-52’s legacy AN/APQ-166 mechanically scanned radar. The contract work is scheduled for completion by August 20, 2031.
Separately, Boeing received a $163-million contract to manufacture and deliver modernized bomb rack kits for the B-52 fleet. The upgrades will support broader improvements to the aircraft’s sensors, avionics, and weapons integration capabilities. Work will be carried out in San Antonio, Texas, with completion expected by December 2028.
**Advanced AESA Radar**
Derived from the APG-79 radar used aboard the F/A-18 fighter aircraft, the AN/APQ-188 is designed to provide the decades-old B-52 bomber with improved navigation, high-resolution terrain mapping, and enhanced target detection and tracking capabilities.
Unlike mechanically scanned systems, AESA radars employ hundreds or thousands of individual transmit/receive modules that electronically direct radar beams within milliseconds. This enables simultaneous or rapid multi-sector surveillance, tracking of multiple targets, and quick transitions between different operational functions without relying on moving mechanical components.
The elimination of mechanical steering mechanisms also improves system reliability and lowers maintenance demands. Additionally, the radar can retain operational capability even if individual transmit/receive modules fail.
**Modernization Costs and Program Risks**
The radar modernization effort is one of 13 major upgrade programs planned for the B-52 fleet, covering areas such as propulsion, communications, software, sensors, and weapons. Collectively, these modernization initiatives are projected to cost approximately $21 billion.
According to the US Government Accountability Office, 10 of the 13 modernization programs are facing cost increases, schedule delays, or other development risks. The Commercial Engine Replacement Program remains the most significant concern, with its estimated cost increasing by approximately $3 billion since 2023 to $15.4 billion and its schedule slipping by around 15 months.
The delays could place additional pressure on the aging Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines currently powering the B-52 fleet. Maintenance depots are already experiencing shortages of certain spare parts, while extended overhaul timelines could potentially affect aircraft availability and operational readiness across the Air Force’s 76 active B-52 bombers.
Despite these challenges, the Air Force intends to begin engine production before completing developmental flight testing. The GAO recommended postponing this decision until associated program risks are fully evaluated.
The Air Force fully accepted five of the GAO’s six recommendations, including measures to expand the use of digital engineering and revise maintenance and repair plans. However, it only partially agreed with the recommendation to delay the engine production decision under the Commercial Engine Replacement Program.
