The US Air Force's plan to upgrade its 70-year-old B-52 bombers is billions over budget, watchdog finds
The US Air Force's B-52 bomber upgrades are delayed and over budget by billions of dollars.The B-52 Stratofortress has been flying since 1950, and the Air Force hopes to keep it around into the 2050s.The modernization plans include new commercial engines and radars.Cost and scheduling challenges have pushed the US Air Force's B-52 Stratofortress modernization program billions over budget, according to a new report.The aging B-52 has long been a workhorse of the Air Force, which is replacing the bomber's decades-old engines to keep the aircraft flying into the 2050s. But the upgrades have run into delays and rising costs.Last week, the Government Accountability Office, a government watchdog agency, released a report on the current status of the B-52 modernization and sustainment efforts.
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The US Air Force's B-52 bomber upgrades are delayed and over budget by billions of dollars.The B-52 Stratofortress has been flying since 1950, and the Air Force hopes to keep it around into the 2050s.The modernization plans include new commercial engines and radars.Cost and scheduling challenges have pushed the US Air Force's B-52 Stratofortress modernization program billions over budget, according to a new report.The aging B-52 has long been a workhorse of the Air Force, which is replacing the bomber's decades-old engines to keep the aircraft flying into the 2050s. But the upgrades have run into delays and rising costs.Last week, the Government Accountability Office, a government watchdog agency, released a report on the current status of the B-52 modernization and sustainment efforts. Of the 13 upgrades that the bombers are getting, 10 are experiencing cost, schedule, or performance challenges.The most expensive B-52 upgrade, the Commercial Engine Replacement Program, has seen a roughly $3 billion increase in cost since 2023, with the initial operational date pushed back more than 15 months. The GAO report said that the program "will likely continue to face significant challenges as the Air Force plans to begin production with little to no developmental flight testing."The other components being upgraded include new radars, communications systems, training devices, and advanced target pod displays.
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- What's the story?
- The US Air Force's B-52 bomber upgrades are delayed and over budget by billions of dollars.The B-52 Stratofortress has been flying since 1950, and the Air Force hopes to keep it around into the 2050s.The modernization plans include new commercial engines and radars.Cost and scheduling challenges have pushed the US Air Force's B-52 Stratofortress modernization program billions over budget, according to a new report.The aging B-52 has long been a workhorse of the Air Force, which is replacing the bomber's decades-old engines to keep the aircraft flying into the 2050s. But the upgrades have run into delays and rising costs.Last week, the Government Accountability Office, a government watchdog agency, released a report on the current status of the B-52 modernization and sustainment efforts.
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The US Air Force's plan to upgrade its 70-year-old B-52 bombers is billions over budget, watchdog finds
Sources1TypeCoverageBusiness Insider