Air Force Initiates B-52 Engine Upgrade to Extend Service Life
The U.S. Air Force is set to begin a significant upgrade of its B-52 Stratofortress bombers, with the first two aircraft scheduled to receive new engines this year. This upgrade is part of the Commercial Engine Replacement Program, which aims to replace the aging Pratt & Whitney TF33-PW-103 engines with new Rolls-Royce F130 engines. The first re-engined B-52s will undergo testing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Boeing, the prime contractor, will handle the integration and modification of the aircraft at its San Antonio, Texas facility. The upgrade is expected to extend the operational life of the B-52 fleet, which has been in service since 1955, through 2050 and beyond. 
