$766 Million Upgrade Contracts Awarded for B-52 Stratofortress Bombers
The US Air Force has awarded two major contracts worth $766 million to Raytheon and Boeing for upgrades on its B-52 Stratofortress bombers. The modernization plan aims to keep the Cold War-era fleet relevant through the 2050s, with new sensors and systems replacing aging components.
Raytheon will build new AN/APQ-188 AESA radars for the B-52s, derived from fighter aircraft sensors, which offer higher reliability and multi-target tracking in all weather. Boeing's Bomb Rack Modernization kits will retrofit older bomb racks for modern weapons.
The upgrades are crucial to extending the B-52's service life, with GAO noting that the bomber remains vital to the nuclear triad and global strike capabilities. The US Air Force has already launched a $21 billion modernization plan, including replacing aging TF33 engines with new Rolls-Royce F130s.
Raytheon won an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract up to $603 million for radar production, while Boeing was awarded about $163 million as a delivery order under the existing B-52 sustainment contract. The contracts did not specify how many radar units will be procured under the $603 M ceiling.
The new AN/APQ-188 radars are expected to greatly increase range and efficiency, while lowering maintenance and life-cycle costs for the B-52s. Boeing's Bomb Rack Modernization kits will add two large 8×20-inch touchscreen displays and fighter-style control sticks for radar operation.