The US Air Force's B-52 Stratofortress modernization effort is facing significant delays and cost overruns. A government watchdog report found that two major parts of the modernization effort, new engine and radar programs, have experienced cost increases of over 30% and schedule delays of more than 3 years.
The Air Force plans to keep the bomber in service through 2050, nearly 100 years after it first entered use. The $21 billion initiative aims to overhaul much of the airframe's infrastructure, including new engines, communication systems, and radar. However, 10 of the 13 programs that make up the overhaul have varying degrees of cost growth, schedule delays, or performance challenges.
One of the biggest issues is the plan to put new engines on the bomber, with costs rising by 38%. The radar system upgrade has also been delayed, with its scheduled operational start pushed back to the third quarter of the 2030 fiscal year. The Air Force is investigating a fatal crash of a B-52 Stratofortress in June, which was part of the radar modernization program.
