US Air Force clears B-52 radar and engine milestones, adds two test bombers

Two US Air Force efforts to modernise the Boeing B-52 have moved past significant development checkpoints, and the service intends to turn two additional heavy bombers into test platforms for the work.

William Bailey, the assistant air force secretary and chief of acquisitions, said the service has given the go-ahead for low-rate initial production of a new Raytheon active electronically scanned array radar for the bomber fleet. In a separate decision, Rolls-Royce was cleared to start engineering and manufacturing development under the re-engine programme, which will swap out the B-52's eight Pratt & Whitney TF33 turbofans for Rolls-Royce F130 powerplants.

The engine approval came in June and the radar approval in August, according to Bailey, who described the two efforts as the leading factors in aircraft availability. The modernisation of the B-52 fleet is expected to cost $21 billion and to keep the bomber in service until at least 2050.

As part of that programme, two frontline bombers will be converted for test duty. They are due to begin modification at Boeing's San Antonio facility in the coming months, where they will be fitted out for both the Radar Modernization Program and the Commercial Engine Replacement Program. Once converted, they will join another radar test aircraft, bringing the number of test B-52s supporting the modernisation to three.

A test-configured B-52H was lost in June when it crashed at Edwards AFB in California during work tied to the radar programme. All eight people on board died. Those killed included military personnel, government civilian workers and two Boeing employees.

The F130 engines will be mounted in the B-52's distinctive dual-pod arrangement.