US Nuclear Capable B-52 Bomber Gets AESA Radar Upgrade
The awards support a radar overhaul for all 76 B-52Hs, but officials say the program has faced delays and rising costs.
- The Air Force awarded Raytheon a $603 million contract to produce and sustain AN/APQ-188 radar systems for the B-52 fleet, while Boeing received nearly $163 million for bomb rack modernization kits.
- These awards support the broader B-52 Radar Modernization Program, replacing the aircraft's Cold War-era AN/APQ-166 radar with active electronically scanned array technology to improve situational awareness and target identification.
- The program has faced significant schedule delays and cost growth, with total estimated costs rising to $2.58 billion as the Air Force works to manage expenses for the 76-bomber fleet.
- Data from ongoing flight evaluations will inform the retrofit of all 76 B-52 aircraft, which the Air Force expects to be operational by the third quarter of fiscal 2030.
- The radar overhaul is one of 13 upgrades meant to keep the Eisenhower-era bomber flying through the 2050s, part of a modernization effort expected to total about $21 billion.
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US nuclear capable B-52 bomber gets AESA radar upgrade
The US Air Force has awarded contracts worth up to a combined $766 million to modernize the B-52 Stratofortress, including production of its new AN/APQ-188 radar and upgrades to its weapons-carrying hardware. The latest funding is another major investment in keeping an aircraft that first entered service in the 1950s relevant for decades to come. But the radar program it supports has also faced significant cost growth and schedule delays. The la…
USAF Gives Raytheon, Boeing $766M for B-52 Radar Upgrades
The Pentagon on Aug. 25 announced a pair of Air Force contracts to Raytheon and Boeing, totaling more than $766 million, for advance work on adding new radars to the B-52H Stratofortress. The bigger of the two deals went to Raytheon Technologies as an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract worth up to $603 million to equip B-52s with new AN/APQ-188 radars. Boeing’s contract is for $163 million to build and deliver bomb rack moderniz…
U.S. Air Force awards Raytheon $603 million for B-52 radar
The U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon a contract with a ceiling value of $603 million to produce and sustain a new radar for the B-52 bomber fleet, the Department of War announced. The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract covers production and sustainment of the AN/APQ-188 radar, which is replacing the B-52’s Cold War-era AN/APQ-166 system. The Air Force […]
Raytheon, Boeing receive up to $766 million for B-52 radar and weapon systems upgrades to keep bomber flying into the 2050s
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center disclosed the awards on Aug. 26 after they were signed on Aug. 21. The service initially obligated $46.01 million to Raytheon and $34.95 million to Boeing from fiscal 2026 aircraft procurement funds. Raytheon received a $603 million indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract to produce and sustain AN/APQ-188 radars. The stated value is a maximum ordering ceiling rather than a guaranteed payment. …
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