Boeing has delivered the first B-52 Stratofortress bomber equipped with the new APQ-188 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar to the US Air Force for testing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The aircraft marks a major milestone in the B-52 Radar Modernization Program (RMP), which aims to replace the bomber’s aging legacy radar with a modern, digitally advanced system.
Prior to its arrival at Edwards, the upgraded bomber underwent extensive ground integration and functional testing at Boeing’s San Antonio facility. The RMP upgrade package includes two Display and System Sensor Processors that connect the new radar with existing onboard systems, along with two high-definition touchscreen displays at the navigator and radar navigator stations. These are paired with fighter-style hand controllers designed to improve situational awareness and crew interaction.
Additional modifications support radar performance in extreme operating environments, including a liquid cooling system and engine bleed-air heating to ensure reliable operation in severe cold. Data gathered during upcoming flight tests will inform further development phases and guide the planned retrofit of all 76 operational B-52 aircraft in the US Air Force inventory.
The radar modernization effort is part of broader initiatives to extend the B-52’s service life and combat relevance through at least 2050. The RMP complements ongoing upgrades to avionics, weapons integration, and defensive countermeasures, reinforcing the bomber’s role as a cornerstone of America’s long-range global strike capability.
