Overview
- The Air Force said Monday the Commercial Engine Replacement Program passed its Critical Design Review, allowing Boeing to start converting two B‑52Hs to the B‑52J configuration in San Antonio later this year.
- After the San Antonio work, the two re‑engined test aircraft will move to Edwards Air Force Base for extensive flight testing before the rest of the fleet is modified.
- Rolls‑Royce’s F130 engines replace 1960s TF33s, with the engine winning the contract in 2021 and completing altitude and operability testing in February 2026 after its own design review in late 2024.
- The upgrade adds digital controls, new generators that increase electrical power for modern weapons and sensors, refreshed avionics, and a new active electronically scanned array radar.
- Program officials now target initial operational capability in 2033, with re‑engining estimated around $15 billion as part of broader B‑52 upgrades, a push driven by a 76‑jet fleet whose mission‑capable rate fell below 54 percent in 2024 and a long‑term plan to pair B‑52Js with the B‑21 Raider.