The US Air Force has awarded contracts worth more than $766 million to Raytheon and Boeing as part of its B-52 Radar Modernization Program. The effort includes the development and production of an advanced AESA radar intended to improve the long-serving bomber’s ability to detect and track threats well into 2050 and beyond.Raytheon has received a $603 million indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract to manufacture the AN/APQ-188 AESA radar. The new radar is planned as a replacement for the B-52’s existing mechanically scanned AN/APQ-166 system. Raytheon’s portion of the work is expected to be completed by August 20, 2031.Boeing has separately secured a $163 million contract to manufacture and deliver bomb rack modernization kits. These kits will form part of a wider modernization effort involving the B-52’s sensors, avionics and weapons systems. Work at Boeing’s San Antonio facility is scheduled to conclude by December 2028.The AN/APQ-188 is based on technology from the F/A-18’s APG-79 radar. Its integration into the B-52 is expected to improve navigation accuracy, high-resolution mapping, target detection and tracking capabilities.AESA radar technology uses large numbers of independent transmit/receive modules to electronically steer radar beams within milliseconds. This enables the system to search multiple sectors, track several targets and rapidly transition between different radar functions without physically moving the antenna.The removal of mechanical steering components can improve system reliability and reduce maintenance requirements. AESA architecture also allows the radar to remain operational even if some individual modules experience failures.The radar program is one of 13 modernization efforts planned for the B-52, covering areas such as engines, communications, software and weapons. The total modernization initiative is projected to cost approximately $21 billion.The Government Accountability Office has warned that 10 of the 13 programs face cost increases, delays or other risks. The Commercial Engine Replacement Program is the largest concern. Its projected cost has increased by $3 billion since 2023 to $15.4 billion, while its schedule has been delayed by 15 months.Such delays could place additional pressure on the existing Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines. Maintenance facilities are already dealing with shortages of spare parts, and extended engine overhauls could reduce aircraft availability and create a capability gap across the Air Force’s 76 active B-52s.
