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The U.S. Air Force is launching next year a Heavy Bomber Analysis of Alternatives which will allow to determine requirements for future B-52 upgrades or an entirely new heavy bomber.

The U.S. Air Force is launching in 2027 a study to determine requirements for future upgrades to the B-52 Stratofortress or an entirely new heavy bomber. The development, first reported by Aviation Week, is mentioned in the Air Force Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Volume IV of the budget request for Fiscal Year 2027.

Heavy Bomber Analysis of Alternatives

The study is included in the B-52 System Improvements project, which the service describes as a “comprehensive project to facilitate future capabilities and ensure the B-52’s viability in performing current and future wartime missions.” The broader project includes the Advanced Wing Weapon Pylon (AWWP), the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile/ Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (LRASM/JASSM) Integration, the Advanced Weapon Integration and the Heavy Bomber Analysis of Alternatives.

The latter is where the Stratofortress’ possible replacement is mentioned for the first time: “A Heavy Bomber Analysis of Alternatives will begin in FY27 to analyze the future long range strike requirements to determine future B-52 requirements and costs and/or a new heavy bomber aircraft configuration and costs.”

A B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 419th Flight Test Squadron undergoes pre-flight procedures at Edwards AFB, California on Aug. 8, 2020 for a a captive-carry flight test of the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon Instrumented Measurement Vehicle 2 at the Point Mugu Sea Range off Southern California. | Source: U.S. Air Force photo by Giancarlo Casem

The study is mentioned once again while detailing an Advanced Concept Demonstration effort, which supported a classified Proof of Concept demonstration on the B-52 and concluded in FY 2025. No information was provided about the scope of the demonstration.

The document then provides another description of the study:

“New heavy bomber analysis of alternatives will begin initial planning activities to develop key performance parameters, key system attributes, and additional performance attributes for a follow-on heavy bomber in the USAF. The FY27 work scope will include key planning activities for programmatic, requirements, capabilities, and vendor options that could field in the future.”

The service requested $1 million for the study in FY 2027, while the broader Advanced Concepts Demonstration included $3.872 million in FY2025. Since the demonstration was completed, no funds were requested in FY 2026, with the new increase entirely dedicated to the New Heavy Bomber Analysis of Alternatives.

A B-52 from Edwards AFB flies over the desert of Southern California. | Source: U.S. Air Force Photo by Todd Schannuth

The relation between the classified demonstration and the analysis is unclear. The fact that it was described as a proof of concept could point to the determination of the future B-52 requirements mentioned in the first description of the project, rather than an immediate search for a successor.

B-52’s Future

As mentioned in our previous reporting, the U.S. Air Force is expecting to fly the B-52 Stratofortress heavy bomber at least until 2050. The bomber, whose youngest example was delivered in 1962, will even survive the more recent B-1B Lancer and B-2A Spirit bombers.

The service is in fact looking at a mixed fleet of 76 upgraded B-52Js and at least 100 new B-21 Raider stealth bombers. With the fielding of the new bomber, the Stratofortress would focus on standoff strikes only.

In order to be able to be relevant in this role, the bomber will undergo heavy upgrades which will bring it from the B-52H configuration to the new B-52J configuration. Despite some delays in the development of the upgrades, the modernization programs reflect the Air Force’s long-term commitment to the B-52.

The Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar is installed on a B-52 Stratofortress as part of the B-52 Radar Modernization Program. | Source: Courtesy photo

Two critical components of the B-52J upgrade are the Radar Modernization Program and the Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP). The former already produced a first modified aircraft which is currently undergoing flight testing, while the latter will see modification works starting on the first aircraft later this year.

The new radar, Raytheon’s AN/APQ-188 – also referred to as the Bomber Modernized Radar System – is meant to replace the obsolete mechanically scanned AN/APQ-166 that has been in use since the Cold War. The AN/APQ-188 is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar derived primarily from the AN/APG-79 found on the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler, with additional elements from the AN/APG-82 of the U.S. Air Force’s F-15E and F-15EX.

By leveraging existing, proven designs, the Air Force aimed to control costs while giving the B-52 access to modern multi-mode AESA capabilities. However, this approach also meant reassessing which features were truly necessary for the B-52’s mission.

For the B-52, the new radar is expected to enhance target acquisition, potentially with ground moving target indication and synthetic aperture radar functions. Additionally, although it is optimized for air-to-ground roles, the new radar could still retain air-to-air capabilities to the bomber defend against air-to-air threats.

Rolls-Royce F130 engines for the B-52J during testing at the NASA Stennis Space Center. | Source: Rolls Royce

The new engine, the Rolls Royce F130, the military version of the BR725 engine used by the Gulfstream G650 business jet and already powering both the C-37 and E-11 BACN, is meant to replace the bomber’s current Pratt & Whitney TF33-PW-103. The latter has been in use since the 1960s, and will no longer be supportable beyond 2030 as production ceased in the 1980s.

The new engines will increase the bomber’s fuel efficiency, increase range, reduce emissions in unburned hydrocarbons, and significantly reduce maintenance costs. While their overall shape is still the same, the new nacelles of the F130 engine are bigger than the original ones, while the new struts are shorter and get the nacelles closer to the wing.

The Air Force planned to finalize integration activities and deliver the first lot of B-52Js in the 2026-2027 timeframe, with initial operational capability initially expected in 2030 but later delayed to 2033. Full fleet re-engining may not be completed until 2036, while a timeline for the new radar has not been disclosed.