The Essential Design Evaluate of the CERP program paves the best way for the modification of two B-52 bombers with the brand new engines, with work on the primary bomber beginning later this yr.
The U.S. Air Drive has introduced that the B-52 Stratofortress bomber’s Industrial Engine Substitute Program (CERP) has handed the Essential Design Evaluate (CDR). Following this milestone, the service says it will probably begin the modifications to exchange the outdated TF33 engines with the brand new F130 engines on two bombers.
The CERP’s CDR comes simply over a yr after the F130 accomplished its personal CDR in December 2024. with the ultimate designs validated by way of evaluation of analyses, simulations, schematics, software program code, and take a look at outcomes. Lately, Rolls Royce accomplished altitude and operability testing for the F130 engine on the U.S. Air Drive Arnold Engineering Improvement Advanced (AEDC) in Tullahoma, Tennessee.
The B-52 Industrial Engine Substitute Program held its Essential Design Evaluate. This milestone allows this system to maneuver nearer to modernization of #B52 plane with fuel-efficient engines and superior methods into the 2050s.
Be taught extra: pic.twitter.com/xHwp0OtuG7
— Boeing Protection (@BoeingDefense) Could 4, 2026
“This CERP vital design evaluation is the end result of an infinite quantity of engineering and integration work from Boeing, Rolls Royce, and the Air Drive that may allow the B-52J to stay within the battle for future generations,” stated Lt. Col. Tim Cleaver, Bombers Directorate CERP Program Supervisor.
Throughout the CDR’s complete technical evaluation, consultants from the Air Drive, Boeing, and Rolls-Royce scrutinized the entire system design to make sure it meets all necessities earlier than main modification work begins. Cleaver described the CDR as a pivotal second, because it now permits this system to quickly transfer towards plane modification.
The work on the primary bomber is scheduled to start later this yr. The Air Drive says Boeing will modify the primary two B-52H plane into the B-52J configuration with the brand new engines at its facility in San Antonio, Texas.
The 2 modified B-52J plane will bear in depth testing at Edwards AFB, California, permitting to validate the brand new engines and associated methods. As soon as testing is full, this system will transfer towards modifying the rest of the B-52H fleet.
B-52J and CERP
As we have now typically reported right here at The Aviationist, the bomber’s present Pratt & Whitney TF33-PW-103s, used because the Sixties, will not be supportable past 2030. Due to this, the B-52 Industrial Engine Substitute Program (CERP) was kicked off in 2018, with GE Aviation, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce competing for the contract.
The successful provide from Rolls-Royce is the F130, the navy model of the BR725 engine utilized by the Gulfstream G650 enterprise jet and already powering each the C-37 and E-11 BACN in service with the U.S. Air Drive. In 2023, two years after the choice in 2021, Rolls-Royce introduced it launched F130 engine testing.
As occurred with the B-52G, when new engines have been the primary cause the B-52G was redesignated as B-52H in 1962, with the brand new F130 engines, the Stratofortress shall be given the designation B-52J. One other vital element of the B-52J improve is the Radar Modernization Program, with the primary modified plane at the moment present process testing at Edwards AFB.
The Air Drive deliberate to finalize integration actions and ship the primary lot of B-52Js within the 2026-2027 timeframe, with preliminary operational functionality initially anticipated in 2030 however later delayed to 2033. The new engines will improve the bomber’s gas effectivity, improve vary, cut back emissions in unburned hydrocarbons, and considerably cut back upkeep prices.
Whereas their general form continues to be the identical, the brand new nacelles of the F130 engine are larger than the unique ones, whereas the brand new struts are shorter and get the nacelles nearer to the wing. The wind tunnel testing on these was accomplished in 2022.
The brand new nacelles shall be provided by Spirit AeroSystems, which was awarded a contract from Boeing in 2023 to offer each struts and nacelles for the CERP program. The corporate, one of many world’s largest suppliers of struts and nacelles, has in the meantime been acquired by Boeing.
In December 2025, Boeing has been awarded a $2.04 billion job order for the Submit-Essential Design Evaluate (CDR) section of the CERP. It will see Boeing finishing system integration work, modification and testing of two B-52 plane with the brand new engines and related subsystems by Could 2033.
