Boeing Delivers First B‑52 Radar Modernization Test Aircraft to U.S. Air Force
Boeing has officially handed over the first B-52J Radar Modernization Program flight test aircraft to the United States Air Force. The aircraft, now under the responsibility of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base in California, has been equipped with the AN/APQ-188 active electronically scanned array radar, a system comparable to those typically found on advanced fighter aircraft.
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| The first B-52J equipped with the upgraded AN/APQ-188 radar has successfully been ferried to Edwards Air Force Base. Credit: Boeing |
The B-52J configuration represents a comprehensive modernization of the long-serving B-52H. Among its most significant changes are the installation of Rolls-Royce F130 engines to replace the aging TF33s, which will deliver improved fuel efficiency, extended range, greater reliability, and reduced maintenance demands. The aircraft also incorporates a digital cockpit with large high-definition touchscreens, modern mission computers, and enhanced avionics designed to integrate seamlessly with next-generation weapons such as the Long-Range Stand Off missile.
The radar modernization effort is central to the broader upgrade strategy intended to keep the B-52 viable as a global strike platform well into the middle of the century. Boeing completed initial system integration and functional checks at its San Antonio facility before the aircraft was transferred to Edwards for flight testing. Data collected during these trials will guide subsequent developmental phases and support the planned retrofit across the fleet of 76 operational bombers.
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| Credit: USAF |
The AN/APQ-188 radar itself is a derivative of Raytheon’s AN/APG-79 used on the F/A-18 and the AN/APG-82 employed on the F-15EX, but adapted with a larger antenna to suit the B-52’s requirements. It is a solid-state AESA system that employs Gallium Arsenide monolithic microwave integrated circuits in its transmit/receive modules. This technology enables rapid beam steering, long-range target tracking, high-resolution ground mapping, and enhanced navigation functions, while also improving situational awareness in both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.
The modernization package integrates two Display and System Sensor Processors as mission computers, ensuring the radar functions are fully tied into the bomber’s systems. Aircrew stations now feature dual 8×20-inch high-definition touchscreens at the Navigator and Radar Navigator positions, providing radar imagery, system control, and legacy display functions. Fighter-style hand controllers have been added for radar operation, while the system’s cooling has been upgraded with liquid cooling capability and engine bleed-air heating to maintain performance in extreme cold environments.
According to Boeing Bombers vice president Troy Dawson, the new radar will substantially improve mission effectiveness by accelerating target engagement, enhancing crew survivability in contested airspace, and expanding overall situational awareness. He emphasized that the current test phase is focused on ensuring the system is correctly implemented from the outset, laying the foundation for successful execution of the full modernization program.
Beyond the radar, the B-52J’s avionics and data link upgrades are designed to strengthen its role in networked warfare. The aircraft will be able to share information more effectively with other platforms and coordinate the employment of advanced standoff weapons such as the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range, the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile, and future hypersonic systems. This transformation positions the bomber not only as a strategic strike asset but also as a highly connected node within the broader combat network.
Written by Henry Wan
Henry Wan is an independent defense journalist with over 14 years of experience reporting on military affairs and security issues. He has covered defense strategies, military technology, and geopolitical developments with a consistent focus on accuracy, independence, and a comprehensive understanding of global security matters.