The US Air Force has awarded Raytheon and Boeing contracts worth more than $766 million for the B-52 Radar Modernization Program.
The US Air Force has awarded Raytheon and Boeing contracts worth more than $766 million for the B-52 Radar Modernization Program, including production of an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar designed to improve the aging bomber’s threat detection and tracking capabilities through 2050 and beyond.
Under a $603-million indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract, Raytheon will produce the AN/APQ-188 AESA radar to replace the legacy mechanical AN/APQ-166 system. Work is expected to be completed by August 20, 2031.
Boeing has separately secured a $163-million contract to build and deliver bomb rack modernization kits for the B-52. The kits will complement broader upgrades to the bomber’s sensors, avionics and weapons systems, with work in San Antonio, Texas, expected to be completed by December 2028.
AESA Radar
A variant of the F/A-18 fighter’s APG-79 radar, the AN/APQ-188 is intended to give the 66-year-old strategic bomber improved navigation accuracy, high-resolution mapping, and enhanced target detection and tracking.
AESA radars use hundreds to thousands of independent transmit/receive modules to steer radar beams electronically within milliseconds. This allows them to conduct multi-sector searches, track multiple targets, and rapidly switch between functions without mechanical movement.
The lack of mechanical steering also improves reliability and reduces maintenance requirements, while allowing the radar to continue operating even if individual modules fail.
“This radar is a game-changer,” B-52 Advanced Programs manager and former B-52 radar navigator Todd Scherm said. “The radar images and new modes of operation greatly enhance mission effectiveness and boost flight safety at the same time.”
Cost Overruns
The radar upgrade is one of 13 B-52 modernization programs covering engines, communications, software and weapons, with the overall effort projected to cost about $21 billion.
The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) says 10 of the 13 programs face cost overruns, delays or other risks. The biggest concern is the Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP), whose projected cost has risen by $3 billion since 2023 to $15.4 billion, while its schedule has slipped by 15 months.
The delays could strain maintenance of the existing Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines, with depots already facing spare parts shortages. Prolonged overhauls could create a capability gap and reduce readiness among the air force’s 76 active B-52s.
Despite the risks, the service plans to begin engine production before completing developmental flight testing. The GAO recommended delaying that decision until the associated risks are assessed.
The air force fully agreed with five of the GAO’s six recommendations, including expanding digital engineering and updating repair plans, but only partially agreed with delaying the CERP production decision.
