B-52 Radar Upgrades Continue Despite Cost Overruns

Boeing and Raytheon have secured new contracts worth up to $766 million for the US Air Force's B-52 Radar Modernization Program. The program, which aims to replace the mechanically scanned AN/APQ-166 radar with an active electronically scanned array system, has faced rising costs and schedule delays.

The estimated acquisition cost of the Radar Modernization Program now exceeds $2.9 billion, a 30% increase from the original estimate. The Government Accountability Office reported this in July, citing significant design changes, contractor performance problems, and installation complexity as contributing factors.

As part of efforts to mitigate costs, the Air Force has reduced the number of performance requirements for the new radar from 25 to 20. This 'minimum viable product' approach eliminates the need for a new radome and reduces the scope of the project.