USAF To Fly the B-52 into the 2050s with New Engines, Radars | Aviation International News

USAF To Fly the B-52 into the 2050s with New Engines, Radars

Already in service for over 50 years, the venerable bomber is now set to outlast the B-1 and B-2.

A B-52H on a strike mission over the Middle East during Operation Enduring Freedom last July. (Photo: USAF)

By Chris Pocock • Defense Correspondent

April 13, 2018

The U.S. Air Force has finally decided to fund a re-engining of the B-52H bomber, and has described a plan to keep the fleet of 76 jets in service until at least 2050. The fleet will also receive new radars. The service now plans to retire the much younger but costly-to-operate B-1 and B-2 stealth bombers as new, stealthy B-21s are delivered by Northrop Grumman starting in the late 2020s. In mid-2016, the average flying time logged by each B-52 was 17,867 hours, but the USAF has not reported any major structural issues that could derail its latest plan.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

Embraer Delivers First Praetor 600E Ahead of Schedule

Launch customer Flexjet accepts first of the upgraded super-midsize jets

Embraer Praetor 600E in flight

Aura Aero Flies Former VoltAero Aircraft As Testbed

Aura Aero makes first flight of hybrid-electric testbed since acquiring assets

Modified Cessna 337 Skymaster over coast r

ACJ: Strong Large-aircraft Market Growth Ahead in Asia

Research finds most financiers and brokers in Asia see market demand increasing

Airbus Corporate Jets ACJTwoTwenty

Britten-Norman Targets Eight New-build Islanders Annually

UK production expansion follows inaugural flight of latest Bembridge-built unit

Britten-Norman Islander

Bizjet Market Value To Reach $60B per Year in Next Decade

Market estimated to grow from $27 billion in 2025 to more than $60.5 billion

Phenom 100

Atlas Will Build Electra’s EL9 Hybrid-electric Prototypes

Wichita-based aerospace manufacturing group has partnered with the U.S. start-up

Electra EL9 aircraft

Honda Aircraft Finishes Echelon Wing, Delays 1st Flight

Final assembly of the first jet will take place early next year

Honda Aircraft team and the Echelon wing

Cape Air To Add Eight Caravans for Montana Service

Will introduce aircraft in 2027 to the Montana network

Textron Aviation Cessna Grand Caravan EX