As the US accelerates its preparations for great power competition and peer-to-peer conflicts, it is of paramount importance to maintain the long-range strike options the military possesses. In an effort to keep its legendary bombers relevant for at least until the 2050s, the Department of War has awarded a $766 million Raytheon Boeing USAF B-52 modernization contract.
Raytheon’s $603M Radar Upgrade
With the majority of the budget – $603 million –Boeing and Raytheon have each been given sole-source contracts to upgrade the bomber’s radar and weapons systems, respectively
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, has awarded Raytheon with a large IDIQ contract for the production and sustainment of the new radar system. The AN/APQ-188 radar to be installed in the B-52s is based on the avionics found in modern fighter jets. It will replace the Cold War-era analog AN/APQ-166 radar currently used by the aircraft, giving them an increased targeting range and better navigation abilities, as well as the ability to operate in all weather conditions. In essence, the upgraded radar would make the B-52s a remotely piloted weapons platform capable of delivering standoff attacks.
The contract includes an $579.3 million ceiling, with a $387.5 million requirement in FY2026. Raytheon will perform the production work in Mississippi, California, Texas, and Georgia, with the delivery expected to be completed by August 20, 2031. The Air Force obligated $46 million from the FY2026 aircraft procurement funds.
Boeing’s $163M Bomb Racks
The Air Force’s investment in the B-52 modernization program is well on its way, with Boeing receiving a $162.97 million delivery order for the production of the aircraft’s bomb racks.
The newly manufactured and upgraded Bomb Rack Modernization System kits will be produced at Boeing’s facility in San Antonio, Texas. They will be delivered to the Air Force in 2028, with the work starting in 2025 and being completed by December 20, 2028. The service also obligated nearly $35 million from the FY2026 aircraft procurement funds.
Keeping the Aircraft Relevant for Decades
The B-52 bomber modernization program has officially begun, with the first radar-upgraded test aircraft scheduled to arrive at Edwards Air Force Base, California, later this month. The new radar system would be a part of a larger B-52J upgrade program, which will also see the aircraft’s engines replaced with newer Rolls-Royce F130 jet engines.
The combined effort will keep the B-52s relevant for several more decades and provide the Air Force with a credible strategic deterrent option. Boeing and Raytheon’s work on the B-52 bomber modernization program will begin in 2025 and continue until 2031.
