- Engine replacement aims to significantly extend B-52’s lifespan
- New turbofan engines promise improved fuel efficiency and reduced maintenance requirements
- The B-52’s aging TF33 engines have not been produced since the 1980s
The US Air Force has authorized Boeing to begin replacing the B-52’s aging Pratt & Whitney engines with new Rolls-Royce F130 turbofan engines.
Known as the “BUFF” bomber, the first example will arrive at Boeing’s facility in San Antonio, Texas, later this year for modification.
This long-awaited upgrade, known as the Commercial Engine Replacement Program or CERP, recently passed a critical design review originally planned for 2023.
Cost of keeping a Cold War bomber alive for a century
Estimating the total life cycle cost of the B-52 program is a massive undertaking, as it covers nearly a century of service from 1952 to 2050 with a peak fleet of 744 aircraft.
Adjusted for inflation to the value of the dollar in 2050, the total cost of the program is estimated to be between $1.3 and $1.5 trillion, which includes initial development and production, ongoing historic operations and maintenance, and the massive B-52J modernization program currently underway.
The B-52 currently uses TF33 engines which have been out of production since 1985 and have become increasingly expensive to maintain.
The new F130 engines offer significantly better fuel economy and reduced maintenance requirements, which will extend the bomber’s range and reduce reliance on aerial refueling tankers.
The upgrade also includes new twin-engine modules and modern generators that will significantly increase the electrical capacity of the aircraft.
After receiving new engines and a radar upgrade, the bombers will be redesignated B-52H to B-52J.
Delays, redesigns and the challenge of upgrading an aging fleet
The B-52 entered service in 1955 and has flown continuous missions since then, including recent strikes against Iran.
The Air Force plans to keep the B-52 fleet operational into the 2050s, giving the plane nearly a century of service.
However, CERP’s efforts have suffered numerous delays since the Rolls-Royce contract was awarded in 2021, as engineers identified a critical engine intake distortion issue, which required an overhaul and additional wind tunnel testing.
The total estimated cost of the program has also increased, with reports suggesting it has increased from $8 billion to $9 billion.
“This critical review of the CERP design is the culmination of an enormous amount of engineering and integration work,” said Lt. Col. Tim Cleaver, CERP program manager.
These improvements are considered “crucial to ensuring the B-52 Stratofortress remains a formidable asset in the nation’s long-range strike arsenal through 2050 and beyond.”
The first re-engined B-52s will be tested at Edwards Air Force Base before the green light is given for the remaining 74 aircraft in the fleet.
The B-52 outlasted every other bomber that shared the skies with it, and that’s no accident.
The airframe was overbuilt in ways that 1950s engineers couldn’t fully appreciate, and nothing else on the horizon can do what it can for a similar price.
Replacing the B-52 with a new platform specifically designed for the same missions would cost far more than keeping the old airframes flying.
Only flight tests will be able to answer the question of whether the bet will hold when the first modified B-52J leaves the hangar in the 2030s.
Via Defense One
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