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Boeing Defense Systems has been awarded a $2.04 billion task order by the U.S. Department of War to continue work on the B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program.

The contract focuses on replacing the B-52’s legacy TF33 engines with modern Rolls-Royce F130 engines, marking one of the most significant upgrades to the aircraft since it entered service more than six decades ago. Boeing will serve as the system integrator for the effort, overseeing aircraft modification, subsystem integration, and flight testing.

Work under the $2.04 billion contract is scheduled for completion by 31 May 2033, highlighting the long-term nature of the program and its importance to U.S. strategic aviation planning. Activities will be carried out across multiple U.S. locations, including Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Seattle, and Indianapolis.

The distributed workshare reflects the scale and technical complexity of the program, as well as Boeing’s reliance on a broad industrial base to support modification, testing, and sustainment activities over the next decade.

The Pentagon did not disclose details on when specific phases of the work will begin or how funding will be distributed on a year-by-year basis. As with many large defense acquisition efforts, the program is expected to be funded incrementally and to evolve as testing and integration milestones are completed.

Replacing TF33 Rolls-Royce F130

Under the program, each upgraded aircraft will be fitted with eight Rolls-Royce F130 engines, replacing the ageing TF33 engines that have powered the bomber since the early Cold War period. The new engines are expected to significantly improve fuel efficiency, reliability, and maintainability, while also reducing sustainment costs over the aircraft’s extended service life.

As part of the newly awarded task order, Boeing will conduct system integration, modification, and testing work on two B-52 aircraft equipped with the F130 engines and associated subsystems. These aircraft will be used to validate performance, integration, and operational characteristics before the full fleet conversion proceeds.

The Commercial Engine Replacement Program is intended to upgrade all 76 B-52H Stratofortress aircraft currently in service to the new B-52J configuration, creating a common standard across the fleet and simplifying long-term maintenance and logistics.

Radar and Avionics Modernization

The engine replacement effort is part of a broader modernization package designed to keep the B-52 relevant well into the middle of the century. Alongside the Commercial Engine Replacement Program, the Air Force is pursuing the B-52 Radar Modernization Program, which replaces the legacy AN/APQ-166 radar with the more advanced AN/APQ-188 active electronically scanned array radar.

The new radar is derived from systems already in use on U.S. fighter aircraft, including the F/A-18E/F and F-15 fleets, and is expected to provide improved detection, tracking, and targeting capabilities. According to program updates, one aircraft equipped with the new radar was ferried to Edwards Air Force Base on December 8, 2025, for testing by units from Edwards and Barksdale Air Force Bases.

Combined, the new engines and radar are intended to enhance the bomber’s operational reach, sensor performance, and survivability, while also reducing the maintenance burden associated with older, analogue systems.

Keeping B-52 in Service Through 2050

The B-52J program includes additional structural and avionics upgrades beyond engines and radar, all aimed at ensuring the aircraft remains viable through at least 2050. Despite being one of the oldest aircraft still flying in U.S. military service, the B-52 continues to play a central role in long-range strike missions, conventional deterrence, and nuclear operations.

U.S. defense planners envision the B-52J operating as part of a future two-aircraft strategic bomber fleet alongside the B-21 Raider. In this structure, the B-21 is expected to provide stealthy penetration capabilities, while the B-52 will offer payload capacity, flexibility, and the ability to carry a wide range of standoff weapons.

The decision to invest heavily in the B-52 reflects a broader strategy of balancing new platform development with the modernization of proven systems, particularly at a time when production timelines and costs for next-generation aircraft remain under pressure.

Market Reaction and Broader Context

News of the contract award lifted Boeing shares in pre-market trading, reflecting investor confidence in the company’s defense business at a time when its commercial aviation operations continue to face challenges. The B-52 award adds to Boeing’s defense backlog and underscores its long-standing role as a prime contractor on key U.S. military platforms.

The engine replacement contract follows other recent defense wins for Boeing, including more than $7 billion in Pentagon contracts announced last month for military aircraft and helicopter programmes. These awards have helped stabilize Boeing’s defense division, which remains a critical pillar of the company’s overall business.

For Boeing, continued involvement in the B-52 program also reinforces its position within the U.S. military aviation ecosystem, spanning bombers, fighters, rotorcraft, and space systems.

Long-term Implications

The scale and duration of the B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program highlight the enduring relevance of the bomber in U.S. strategic planning. By pairing new engines with modern sensors and avionics, the Air Force aims to ensure that the aircraft remains effective against evolving threats while benefiting from lower operating costs and improved reliability.

Although details on program phasing and funding remain limited, the latest task order signals continued momentum behind the B-52J upgrade path. With work now funded through the Post-Critical Design Review phase and testing underway on key subsystems, the program is moving steadily toward full fleet conversion.

As the U.S. military prepares for long-term competition and seeks to maintain credible deterrence capabilities, investments such as the B-52J underscore a preference for combining innovation with continuity, ensuring that legacy platforms can operate alongside new systems for decades to come.