Boeing Secures $2.04B U.S. Air Force Order for B-52 Bomber Engine Integration and Modernization
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The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing Defense Systems a $2.04 billion task order to begin hands-on integration work under the B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program. The move advances the iconic bomber from paper design into live aircraft testing, extending its operational relevance well into the 2050s.
In a pivotal advancement for the United States Air Force’s long-range strike capability, Boeing Defense Systems has secured a $2.04 billion task order, announced by the U.S. Department of War on December 23, 2025, to accelerate the B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP) into its next development phase. The award enables Boeing to begin hands-on integration work and structural modifications on two B-52 aircraft, marking a decisive shift from design validation to live aircraft testing. The work, scheduled through May 31, 2033, will be conducted across multiple sites, including Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Seattle, and Indianapolis.
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The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a $2.04 billion contract to begin hands-on B-52 engine integration work, moving the bomber’s modernization effort from design into live aircraft testing (Picture Source: U.S. Air Force)
This critical phase comes after successful completion of the program’s Critical Design Review, and it marks the beginning of post-CDR integration efforts. The task order, managed by Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, includes incremental funding that begins with $35.8 million from the Fiscal Year 2026 research, development, test, and evaluation budget. Boeing will oversee the integration of new engines and their subsystems into two prototype aircraft, laying the foundation for full fleet upgrades in the coming years.
The B‑52’s aging Pratt & Whitney TF33‑PW‑103 engines, in service since the 1960s, are increasingly difficult to sustain due to parts scarcity, rising maintenance costs, and outdated technology. The Rolls‑Royce F130 engine, selected after a competitive evaluation in 2021, offers a transformative solution. It promises approximately 30 percent greater fuel efficiency, enhanced durability, and significantly improved electrical generation to support next-generation avionics and mission systems.
The broader CERP initiative is not limited to propulsion. It includes structural updates such as new engine struts, digital cockpit displays, and power systems, transforming the B‑52H into a new B‑52J configuration. This modernization enables the aircraft to support expanded weapon sets, sensor packages, and digital mission integration required for operations well into the 2050s.
Strategically, this modernization ensures the B‑52 remains a viable and credible deterrent, particularly as the Air Force transitions to a mixed bomber fleet of B‑21 Raiders and upgraded legacy platforms. The B‑52’s adaptability, long-range, and high payload capacity make it indispensable in the U.S. nuclear triad and conventional strike missions. This contract reinforces the Air Force’s strategy of retaining proven platforms while embedding next-generation technologies to meet evolving global threats.
Air Force Global Strike Command officials view this post-CDR integration as a critical milestone. Results from the prototype aircraft will directly influence production timelines, operational certification, and training infrastructure development. The success of this phase will determine the pacing for fleet-wide retrofits and long-term sustainment planning.
With this award, Boeing and the U.S. Air Force have taken a major step toward securing the B‑52’s relevance for another generation of conflict scenarios. While the aircraft’s silhouette remains unchanged, the powerplant and internal systems beneath the surface will be entirely modernized, enabling it to fly and fight in tomorrow’s battlespace.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing Defense Systems a $2.04 billion task order to begin hands-on integration work under the B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program. The move advances the iconic bomber from paper design into live aircraft testing, extending its operational relevance well into the 2050s.
In a pivotal advancement for the United States Air Force’s long-range strike capability, Boeing Defense Systems has secured a $2.04 billion task order, announced by the U.S. Department of War on December 23, 2025, to accelerate the B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP) into its next development phase. The award enables Boeing to begin hands-on integration work and structural modifications on two B-52 aircraft, marking a decisive shift from design validation to live aircraft testing. The work, scheduled through May 31, 2033, will be conducted across multiple sites, including Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Seattle, and Indianapolis.
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a $2.04 billion contract to begin hands-on B-52 engine integration work, moving the bomber’s modernization effort from design into live aircraft testing (Picture Source: U.S. Air Force)
This critical phase comes after successful completion of the program’s Critical Design Review, and it marks the beginning of post-CDR integration efforts. The task order, managed by Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, includes incremental funding that begins with $35.8 million from the Fiscal Year 2026 research, development, test, and evaluation budget. Boeing will oversee the integration of new engines and their subsystems into two prototype aircraft, laying the foundation for full fleet upgrades in the coming years.
The B‑52’s aging Pratt & Whitney TF33‑PW‑103 engines, in service since the 1960s, are increasingly difficult to sustain due to parts scarcity, rising maintenance costs, and outdated technology. The Rolls‑Royce F130 engine, selected after a competitive evaluation in 2021, offers a transformative solution. It promises approximately 30 percent greater fuel efficiency, enhanced durability, and significantly improved electrical generation to support next-generation avionics and mission systems.
The broader CERP initiative is not limited to propulsion. It includes structural updates such as new engine struts, digital cockpit displays, and power systems, transforming the B‑52H into a new B‑52J configuration. This modernization enables the aircraft to support expanded weapon sets, sensor packages, and digital mission integration required for operations well into the 2050s.
Strategically, this modernization ensures the B‑52 remains a viable and credible deterrent, particularly as the Air Force transitions to a mixed bomber fleet of B‑21 Raiders and upgraded legacy platforms. The B‑52’s adaptability, long-range, and high payload capacity make it indispensable in the U.S. nuclear triad and conventional strike missions. This contract reinforces the Air Force’s strategy of retaining proven platforms while embedding next-generation technologies to meet evolving global threats.
Air Force Global Strike Command officials view this post-CDR integration as a critical milestone. Results from the prototype aircraft will directly influence production timelines, operational certification, and training infrastructure development. The success of this phase will determine the pacing for fleet-wide retrofits and long-term sustainment planning.
With this award, Boeing and the U.S. Air Force have taken a major step toward securing the B‑52’s relevance for another generation of conflict scenarios. While the aircraft’s silhouette remains unchanged, the powerplant and internal systems beneath the surface will be entirely modernized, enabling it to fly and fight in tomorrow’s battlespace.
