U.S. Air Force B-52 Modernization Hits $21 Billion Cost Overruns, Delays

A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report warns that the U.S. Air Force’s $21 billion B‑52 Stratofortress modernization program is plagued by cost growth and schedule slips. Ten of the 13 upgrade projects, including the Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP) and the Radar Modernization Program, face cost, schedule or performance problems. The engine replacement cost has risen more than 38%, now exceeding $15 billion, and its development timeline has slipped by 32 months, pushing flight‑test completion to 2029 and operational capability to 2033. The radar upgrade, intended to field an active electronically scanned array, has been delayed to the third quarter of fiscal 2030 after a test aircraft crashed in June, killing eight crew members.

The GAO cautions that the Air Force’s plan to begin production before completing flight testing raises the risk of redesigns and further cost increases. It recommends delaying key program decisions, improving oversight, and reassessing digital‑engineering tools. The Air Force has accepted most recommendations but only partially concurred on the engine‑schedule issue. The delays threaten bomber readiness as the legacy Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines become increasingly difficult to sustain.