The US Air Force has issued a $2.04 billion contract to Boeing to continue development of the B-52 engine replacement effort, marking a major milestone in the modernization of the long-serving strategic bomber.
The award supports post–critical design review development under the B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program, encompassing systems integration, as well as the upgrade and testing of two B-52 aircraft fitted with Rolls-Royce F130 engines and associated systems. Work will be conducted across multiple US locations, including Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Seattle, and Indianapolis, with the program slated to conclude by May 31, 2033.
The contract includes an initial obligation of $35.8 million, with further funding expected to be allocated beginning in FY2026 under RDT&E appropriations.
The re-engining program is central to the Air Force’s plan to convert its fleet of 76 B-52H aircraft into the upgraded B-52J variant, alongside improvements to onboard radar, communications, and navigation capabilities. The modernization replaces the aircraft’s aging TF33 engines with Rolls-Royce F130 engines, which completed their critical design review in late 2024.
The new powerplants are designed to enhance fuel efficiency, increase reliability, and reduce life-cycle costs, while also supplying greater electrical output and digital control architecture to support next-generation avionics and mission systems.
As part of the broader B-52J upgrade, the bomber will also receive the AN/APQ-188 AESA radar, replacing the legacy AN/APQ-166. Derived from proven radar technologies used on the F/A-18 and F-15 families, the new sensor significantly improves target detection, tracking, and multi-mode operation, including ground and air surveillance, while reducing maintenance demands.
Combined with structural life extensions and a modernized avionics suite, these upgrades are intended to keep the B-52 viable as a core component of the US strategic bomber force well into the 2050 timeframe.
