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U.S. Pushes 70-Year-Old B-52 Bomber Into 2050s With F130 Engines - AESA Radar and Strike Upgrades

The U.S. Air Force is pushing ahead with one of the most extensive upgrades in the B-52 Stratofortress’s history, converting the 70-year-old bomber into the future B-52J with new Rolls-Royce F130 engines, an APQ-188 AESA radar, increased electrical capacity, and updated mission systems. The modernization is designed to keep the aircraft combat-relevant into the 2050s by improving endurance, sensor performance, and the ability to support long-range nuclear and conventional strike missions. Read full Defense Aerospace News at this link …

A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress lands at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, on August 5, 2026, ahead of the Arctic Thunder Open House. The long-range strategic bomber is undergoing major modernization toward the future B-52J configuration, including Rolls-Royce F130 engines and a new AESA radar intended to keep the aircraft operational into the 2050s and beyond. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War/Defense)

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