The B-52J Stratofortress: Revamping an Icon for 21st Century Warfare
Story by Emily Davis • 2w
The US Air Force is well into its transformative era concerning the bomber fleet, retiring both the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit in favor of the new B-21 Raider and an extensively modernized version of its venerable B-52 now designated the B-52J. It will further extend the service life of the B-52, first flown in 1952, into at least the mid-2060s.
The B-52J will include new Rolls-Royce F130 engines, advanced radar systems, modernized avionics, and updated nuclear strike capabilities. These improvements are part of a larger push to ensure that the bomber remains viable on the battlefield in modern warfare. “The centerpiece of the B-52J modernization will be the replacement of the bomber’s original ’60s-era Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines with new Rolls-Royce-made F130 engines,” Defense News reported. The effort, known as the Commercial Engine Replacement Program- or CERP for short the $2.6 billion starting point for a far broader redevelopment.
The B-52 has beaten expectations on just about everything since coming online, and with the forthcoming J-variant, it’s expected to stay in the air until around 2060. The Air Force will be flying 100-year-old bombers mid-century-a remarkable testament to the plane’s design and its adaptability. “We’re asking geriatric B-52s to be that backbone while we’re waiting for the B-21 to be able to come on board,” retired Air Force pilot Heather Penney said.
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