With a $1.3 trillion lifetime bill, America’s iconic B-52 Stratofortress 'BUFF' bomber, which is as old…
- Engine replacement aims to extend B-52 service life significantly
- New turbofans promise improved fuel efficiency and reduced maintenance needs
- The B-52’s aging TF33 engines have not been produced since the 1980s
The US Air Force has cleared Boeing to begin replacing the B-52's aging Pratt & Whitney engines with new Rolls-Royce F130 turbofans.
Known as the 'BUFF' bomber, the first unit will arrive at Boeing's facility in San Antonio, Texas, later this year for modification.
This long-awaited upgrade, known as the Commercial Engine Replacement Program or CERP, recently passed a critical design review that was originally scheduled for 2023.
Cost of keeping a Cold War bomber alive for a century
Estimating the total lifecycle cost of the B-52 program is a massive undertaking, as it covers nearly a century of service from 1952 to 2050 with a peak fleet of 744 aircraft.
Adjusted for inflation to the value of the...
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