Washington, DC, January 1 - The United States Air Force is advancing a major modernization effort for its iconic B-52 Stratofortress bomber fleet through the Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP), replacing aging Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines with advanced Rolls-Royce F130 powerplants. Selected in 2021 after a competitive process, the F130, a military derivative of proven commercial engines, is manufactured in the United States by Rolls-Royce North America. This B-52 engine upgrade involves delivering over 600 new engines for the 76 active B-52H aircraft (each requiring eight engines), plus spares, ensuring the bombers remain a cornerstone of American strategic deterrence.
The new Rolls-Royce engines for B-52 offer significant improvements over the decades-old TF33s, which have become increasingly difficult to sustain due to obsolescent parts and projected unsustainability by 2030. The F130 provides enhanced fuel efficiency, extended range, reduced maintenance needs, and lower lifecycle costs, allowing the engines to remain on-wing for the aircraft's planned service life. These upgrades will boost overall performance, including greater electrical power generation, while minimizing integration risks thanks to the engine's proven reliability in other U.S. Air Force applications.
In late 2025, Boeing received a $2.04 billion contract to progress the B-52 re-engining effort following critical design milestones, including system integration, aircraft modifications, and testing. Rolls-Royce has successfully completed extensive F130 testing, including sea-level, twin-pod configurations, and critical design reviews, with altitude testing underway. Production and integration activities are ramping up in facilities across the U.S., supporting thousands of jobs.
This B-52 bomber engine replacement is pivotal to extending the fleet's operational viability into the 2050s, transforming the Cold War-era platforms into modernized B-52J variants capable of carrying advanced standoff weapons and operating in contested environments. Combined with ongoing radar and avionics enhancements, the new engines ensure the B-52 remains a versatile, long-range strategic asset for decades to come.