The B-52H Stratofortress bomber is set for a significant upgrade, with new engines having successfully passed their critical design review. The F130 engines, a vital component of the transformation to the B-52J model, are scheduled to commence altitude testing at the U.S. Air Force’s Arnold Engineering Development Complex in Tennessee starting in February 2024. During this testing phase, the engines will be evaluated under various simulated altitudes to assess their performance across different flight conditions.

In addition to the new engines, the B-52 modernization plan includes enhancements such as improved radar, avionics, displays, wheels, brakes, and other upgrades. This modernization is crucial to the U.S. Air Force’s strategy to refine its bomber capabilities in preparation for potential conflicts with major adversaries. The Air Force is planning to incorporate the new stealth B-21 Raider into its fleet while phasing out the older B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers. By the 2030s, the Air Force anticipates maintaining a fleet of at least 100 B-21s and 76 upgraded B-52Js.

The B-52H bombers, originally introduced in the early 1960s, currently operate with their outdated TF33 engines, which are nearing the end of their functional lifespan. Maintenance personnel are increasingly challenged to keep the B-52s operational as spare parts become scarce, often resorting to cannibalizing parts from other engines. The planned upgrades are expected to enable the B-52s to remain in service into the 2050s, potentially lasting until the 2060s, making them nearly a century old.

Candice Bineyard, Rolls-Royce’s director of early life cycle and naval programs for defense, expressed pride in reaching the F130 critical design review milestone on time for the B-52J. She noted the rigorous design process and collaboration with partners, emphasizing excitement about beginning production of the new engine.

Additionally, recent sea-level testing for the F130 engines was completed at Rolls-Royce’s facility in Indianapolis, which included the first software release. This summer, tests at NASA’s Stennis Space Center confirmed the reliability of the engines’ twin pod configuration — a unique setup for the B-52, distinct from the version of the F130 engine currently flying on the Gulfstream G650 business jet.

Stephen Losey, the air warfare reporter for Defense News, has a background in military operations coverage, particularly related to the Air Force and Pentagon affairs.