A B-52H bomber at Edwards Air Force Base in California in June 2025. (Chase Kohler/U.S. Air Force)
The Air Force said late Monday that it plans to move ahead with the B-52 Stratofortress modernization program despite the fatal crash of the first modified version of the bomber.
The June 16 crash at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., killed eight people.
“An Air Force Safety Investigation Board has begun work to determine the cause of the crash,” the Air Force said in a statement Monday. “The Radar Modernization Program office will support this critical process to assist investigators as needed.”
But the radar update effort will continue as the investigation moves forward.
“The RMP team will develop plans to continue testing with the second RMP test aircraft after its arrival at Edwards AFB, and test operations are deemed ready to commence by the 412th Test Wing,” the statement said.
A second B-52H bomber will be modified with the advanced radar system and sent to Edwards Air Force Base for testing before the end of the year, the Air Force said.
The B-52 Stratofortress that crashed had completed a ferry flight from the Boeing Company’s San Antonio facility to Edwards Air Force Base, in California, following the installation of a new radar system as part of the B-52 Radar Modernization Program.
The new Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) built by Raytheon Technologies replaces the aircraft’s older legacy radar system, providing improved all-weather navigation and targeting.
The AESA radar to be installed by Boeing follows successful radar upgrades for the U.S. Air Force’s F-15 Eagle and the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet.
“This radar modernization ensures that the B-52 will continue to serve as a cornerstone of American airpower well into the future,” Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said at the time. “We are committed to extending the life of this vital platform, allowing it to operate alongside next-generation fighter and bomber aircraft.”
The test team planned to conduct ground and flight tests throughout 2026 to support a production decision later in the year.
The upgraded radar is the first major step in the modernization plan for the remaining B-52H Stratofortress bombers.
The Air Force has announced a long-range plan to cut its current bomber force to just two types: the new B-21 Raider stealth bomber and the upgraded B-52J Stratofortress. As new B-21s are delivered by manufacturer Northrop Grumman, the Air Force will retire its B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers.
The B-52 Radar Modernization Program is a key element of the broader strategy to extend the service life of the B-52 through 2050 and potentially beyond.
B-52s are to “receive additional upgrades, including new engines, crew compartments, conventional and nuclear communication systems, avionics, weapons and other capabilities which will enhance the B-52’s ability to carry out the full spectrum of combatant command missions,” the Air Force said in December.
The Commercial Engine Replacement Program will switch out eight 1960s-era Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines on each plane with Rolls-Royce F130 engines.
The B-52 first flew in April 1952 from Boeing Field in Seattle. The Air Force bought 744 of the bombers between 1952 and when production ended with the H variant in 1962. Following the June 16 crash, it currently has about 75 B-52H models, built in the early 1960s.
“The B-52 will continue to serve as an unmatched symbol of U.S. airpower,” said Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, the Air Force Chief of Staff. “With these upgrades, the aircraft will remain ready to execute our nation’s deterrence and strike missions for decades.”
A B-52 Stratofortress flies over Washington, D.C., on July 4, 2020, as part of the “Salute to America” celebration. (Stars and Stripes)
A B-52 Stratofortress bomber flies alongside fighter jets over Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, during the multinational Cope North exercise, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
