The US Air Force has awarded Boeing a $2.04-billion contract to advance the B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP), marking a major step in modernizing the service’s long-serving strategic bomber fleet. The task order covers post-critical design review development, system integration, and the modification and testing of two B-52 aircraft equipped with new Rolls-Royce F130 engines and supporting subsystems.
Work under the contract will be conducted at multiple locations, including Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Seattle, and Indianapolis, with completion scheduled for May 31, 2033. The program begins with an initial funding allocation of $35.8 million, while additional research, development, test, and evaluation funding is expected to be released starting in fiscal year 2026.
The engine replacement effort forms a core element of the broader B-52J modernization initiative, which aims to upgrade the US Air Force’s fleet of 76 B-52H Stratofortress aircraft. Under the plan, the bomber will receive improved radar, navigation, communications, and avionics systems to ensure continued relevance well into the future.
As part of the upgrade, the legacy Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines will be replaced by more efficient and reliable Rolls-Royce F130 commercial-derivative engines, which completed critical design review in December 2024. These engines are expected to reduce sustainment costs, improve fuel efficiency, and deliver increased electrical power, digital engine controls, and enhanced cockpit displays to support future sensors, weapons, and mission systems through 2050.
