B-52 modernization effort sees delays, rising costs, watchdog finds

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A major initiative to upgrade the B-52 Stratofortress to extend the bomber’s time in service faces delays and cost overruns that could impact readiness, a government watchdog found.

The Government Accountability Office issued a new report on the overhaul’s progress on July 31. The watchdog found that two of the biggest parts of the modernization effort — new engine and radar programs — have “experienced cost increases of more than 30 percent and schedule delays of more than 3 years since the programs began early development. Both programs are at risk for additional cost, schedule, and performance challenges as they plan to begin production of modernization efforts about the same time developmental testing begins.”

The Air Force plans to keep the bomber in service through 2050, nearly 100 years after it first entered use. The B-52 has been in service for 71 years, with the last of the currently 75 B-52s in the Air Force fleet delivered in 1962. The Air Force’s roughly $21 billion initiative will overhaul much of the airframe’s infrastructure, namely new engines, communication systems and its radar. However, 10 of the 13 programs that make up the overhaul have “varying degrees” of “cost growth, schedule delays, or performance challenges.”

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One of the biggest issues is the plan to put new engines on the bomber. The Commercial Engine Replacement Program, or CERP as it’s called, makes up the bulk of the modernization project. The program will fit B-52s with new Rolls-Royce F130 engines. CERP has seen costs rise by 38%. Meanwhile, the…

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