Key B-52 upgrades face cost, schedule risks: GAO
A new audit from the Government Accountability Office found concerns with the Air Force’s modernization of the B-52 Stratofortress, which is planned to fly through the middle of the century.
Air Force mulls ‘maybe’ pulling B-52s from retirement
A program to upgrade the radar for the Eisenhower-era bomber suffered a tragic setback after a fatal crash in California.
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The reasons why Group 2 drones are right-sized for the fight
Fuel cell technology lets smaller, more versatile VTOLs handle tasks previously reserved for larger drones.
B-52 crashes at Edwards, killing 8
Col. James Hayes, deputy commander of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, said that the crash was deemed "unsurvivable."
B-52 modernization ‘stabilized’ after cost spikes, schedule delays, Air Force official says
“It’s a lot of money. Some of us watch that money very carefully,” said Rep. Clay Higgins.
US F-15E fighter jet downed by Iran
The loss of an American fighter jet over Iran would appear to be the first manned American aircraft downed over Iran during Operation Epic Fury.
New Sentinel ICBM silos, B-21’s next milestone flight on USAF radar
Lt. Gen. Andrew Gebara said that the Air Force’s plan to build fresh silos for the Sentinel ICBM will save time and cost, but that a small number may not fit on existing federal lands.
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B-52 radar upgrade faces new delays, GAO says
The Government Accountability Office’s annual weapon system assessment also found that the Air Force is moving to field a hypersonic attack cruise missile in 2027, despite delays driving a compressed flight testing schedule.
Air Force considers loosening Air Force One requirements to hit 2027 delivery
A separate Boeing project to integrate a new radar on the B-52 Stratofortress bomber has also suffered a cost breach, said Air Force official Darlene Costello.
Pentagon weapons tester highlights delays for B-52, 3DELRR radars
Key schedule dates to integrate a new radar into the Air Force’s B-52 fleet could be delayed by as much as a year, and a separate effort to deploy a ground-based radar is also experiencing schedule slips, the Pentagon’s top weapons tester found in a new report.
Rolls-Royce says future B-52 engine, the F130, passed critical design review
The company is expected to produce over 600 engines to breathe new life into the Air Force’s B-52 fleet, now expected to fly well into the 21st century.
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Bomber fleet size target ‘probably’ needs to be reassessed: Air Force Global Strike chief
“We have 141 bombers in the inventory,” said Air Force Gen. Thomas Bussiere. “The demand signal for the bombers is greater than any time I’ve seen in my career, across the fabric of every geographic combatant command.”
‘No fail’: Air Force officials spotlight cost jumps, delays for B-52 bomber modernization
The pricetag to put new engines on the decades-old bomber has jumped from $12.5 billion to $15 billion, while an effort to integrate a new radar has climbed to $3.3 billion from an original forecast of $2.3 billion, service officials revealed.
Northrop wins $7 billion Air Force contract for more B-2 sustainment, upgrades
With only 20 bombers in the service’s fleet, that could translate to roughly $350 million in work per plane.
Air Force awards Lockheed $1 billion for new ICBM reentry vehicle
The new Mk21A reentry vehicle will be mounted atop the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile and will carry an updated nuclear warhead known as the W87-1.