B-52 Squadrons

The B-52J Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP) supports nuclear and conventional operations by replacing the current TF33-PW-103 engine on the B-52H aircraft. The TF33-PW-103 engine is experiencing significant supportability challenges due to diminished manufacturing sources and obsolescent technologies. This program will replace the current TF33-PW-103 engine with new military derivative commercial Rolls-Royce F130 engines of similar size, weight, and thrust characteristics. Along with the new engines, CERP will replace associated subsystems, such as engine struts and nacelles, the electrical power generation system, and cockpit displays. The development, production and installation of new engines and related subsystems will replace the legacy equipment on all 76 B-52H aircraft. Any B-52H aircraft modified with the new commercial engines and associated subsystems will be designated as B-52J. B-52J CERP is taking advantage of advances in technology and on-going development efforts to acquire engines and integrate them into the B-52. The new technology will increase both the overall reliability and maintainability of the propulsion system and produce additional electrical power generation capabilities for emerging requirements. The B-52J CERP will allow the operational command (Air Force Global Strike Command) to fully utilize the capabilities of the B-52 aircraft to employ an array of nuclear and conventional weapons while increasing fuel efficiency and extending the range/loiter capabilities of the aircraft. In addition, applicable training devices must be developed, modified and/or upgraded in conjunction with the aircraft modifications. As B-52J CERP brings additional capability to the B-52, emerging security/certification requirements (nuclear hardening, cyber security, program protection, etc.) are being addressed. Several concurrent aircraft upgrades during the B-52J CERP necessitate temporary facilities or facility upgrades/modifications. In addition, the upgrades may necessitate studies be performed to determine optimal engine installation and deployment options. Additionally, funds will be used to procure long lead material and installation for test aircraft to include engines and all required associated components in the B-52J CERP configuration baseline (i.e. RMP A & B EMD kits).

The B-52 Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) Integration satellite communications (SATCOM) system provides a survivable, low probability of intercept/detection, high bandwidth system that ensures secure intra/inter-flight and two-way command and control communications in the modern anti-access/aerial denial battle space. This communications upgrade replaces the Military Strategic and Tactical Relay (MILSTAR) Ultra High Frequency (UHF) SATCOM capability (MILSTAR is nearing system end of life) on the B-52. The AEHF Integration effort will integrate the Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T) Force Element Terminal (FET) onto the B-52 to provide two-way satellite communication for the B-52. Funds may be used to address requirements including, but not limited to, emerging and short-notice Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) for both aircraft and associated training systems, Development Testing (DT)/ Operational Testing (OT), and safety of flight issues. Additionally, funds may accommodate Program Management Administration (PMA) and support, civilian pay expenses, rapid technology insertion, and fulfill Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) or other mandates necessary to ensure continued aircrew safety and mission effectiveness. As AEHF Integration provides future communication growth to the B-52, emerging security/certification requirements (nuclear certification, cyber security, program protection, crypto modernization, etc.) as well as other aircraft upgrades may require studies and/or support for potential impact to AEHF. Funds will be used to conduct development and test activities. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F.

B-52 System Improvements is a comprehensive project to facilitate future capabilities and ensure the B-52's viability in performing current and future wartime missions. The scope of work may include, but not limited to, the development of an Analysis of Alternative (AoA), studies and analyses, a Capability Development Document (CDD), and/or any other analyses or documentation necessary to establish a Program of Record (POR). Additionally, this project may include airborne integration experiments or demonstrations of emerging technologies. Support of the platform integration efforts are necessary to identify and resolve challenges associated with integrating multiple programs and activities planned for the B-52 fleet. Costs include any analysis, documentation, and related expenses necessary to establish a POR and support the B-52 weapon system. Additionally, other costs include, but are not limited to Program Management Administration (PMA), civilian pay expenses, rapid technology insertion, centralized support and initiatives for anticipated weapon system enhancements (to include efforts to improve weapon system operational capabilities, safety, supportability, maintainability, reliability, and total cost of ownership), emerging and short-notice Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) for both aircraft and associated training systems, Development Testing (DT)/ Operational Testing (OT), safety of flight issues and to fulfill Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) or other mandates necessary to ensure continued aircrew safety and mission effectiveness. Advanced Wing Weapon Pylon (AWWP) is currently within the Systems Improvement Budget Line and will be moved to a new consolidated Weapons BPAC during execution in FY27. The B-52 Advanced Pylon overcomes critical structural limitations of the 1960s-era pylon to enable carriage of next-generation, heavy-weight standoff weapons. It will dramatically increase the B-52's "magazine depth” by allowing it to carry a larger quantity of advanced munitions or single, massive payloads (20,000 lb. class). Long Range Anti-Ship Missile/ Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (LRASM/JASSM) Integration is currently within the Systems Improvement BPAC but will be moved to a new consolidated Weapons BPAC during execution in FY27. LRASM / JASM Integration integrates next-generation stealthy cruise missiles.

The B-52 Radar Modernization Program (RMP) supports nuclear and conventional operations by replacing the current AN/APQ-166 radar on the B-52 aircraft with the AN/APQ-188 radar. The APQ-166 system is increasingly difficult to sustain due to Diminishing Manufacturing Sources & obsolescent technologies, and the current failure rate places long-duration missions at risk. This modernization program will encompass the radar antenna array, 12 individual Line Replaceable Units (LRU), the radar control panel, and the Group A allocation that comprise the entire radar system. RMP will take advantage of advances in technology and on-going development efforts to acquire, to the maximum extent possible, previously developed radar systems and integrate them into the B-52. The use of new technology will increase both the overall reliability of the radar system and the capabilities for new missions. RMP will allow the operational command (AF Global Strike Command) to fully utilize the capabilities of the B-52 aircraft to employ an array of nuclear and conventional weapons and perform mission-essential navigation and weather avoidance functions. AF Global Strike Command approved the removal of the radome from the baseline program for considerations of cost control and satisfactory legacy radome performance. In addition, applicable training devices for the new radar subsystem must also be developed, modified, and/or upgraded in conjunction with the aircraft modifications. This modification includes the installation of Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) kits on two B-52 test aircraft to support Developmental/Operational Test and Evaluation (DT/OT). This program upgrades one B-52 Software Integration Lab (SIL) with radar functionality and builds a new Radar Development Lab and a new Radar SIL. Additionally, this program will develop a desktop training tool.

The B-52 Airspace Compliance Program ensures the B-52 meets regulatory Airspace Compliance, DoW and FAA mandates by integrated required hardware, software and firmware. Integrates a new Global Positioning System that provides advanced encryption to prevent spoofing and increases jamming protection for the fleet. This also includes the new Global Positioning System (GPS) Military Code (M-Code) signal design that provides a robust signal for the B-52 Fleet, enhancing Anti-Jam/Anti-Spoof capabilities and improving security to the GPS data message as military applications, technology, and mission requirements evolve. The scope of work may include, but not limited to studies and analyses, and/or any additional analyses or documentation necessary to establish a Programs of Record (POR) the meet mandated functions. Funds may also be used to address emerging and short-notice Diminishing Manufacturing and Material Shortages (DMSMS) for both aircraft and associated training systems, Development Testing (DT)/Operational Testing (OT), safety of flight issues, and associated components of the B-52 baseline configurations. DMSMS efforts may include removal of end-of-life/obsolete software and hardware due to the future emergence of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) implementation. This program element included all necessary expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, and 0605898F

The B-52 ARC-260 program replaces a legacy HF radio with a modernized radio to ensure Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communications in a satellite denied environment. The legacy ARC-190 legacy radio is end of life (EOL) and is no longer procurable with increasing sustainment phase-out through FY31. The scope of the work includes, but is not limited to, the replacement of the existing ARC-190 system with an ARC-260 Radio Set Control (RSC) and Receiver/Transmitter (R/T). The current program intent is to reuse the existing HF antenna/coupler and reuse Group A items to the maximum extent. The ARC-260 will be integrated into the B-52 platform to improve HF voice communications and take full advantage of the HF Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) capabilities. The ARC-260 radio integration on the B-52 aircraft is essential to maintaining BLOS communications and improving mission capabilities well into the future. Funds may be used to address requirements including, but not limited to, emerging and short-notice Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) for both aircraft and associated training systems, Development Testing (DT)/ Operational Testing (OT), and safety of flight issues. Additionally, funds may accommodate Program Management Administration (PMA) and support, civilian pay expenses, rapid technology insertion, and fulfill Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) or other mandates necessary to ensure continued aircrew safety and mission effectiveness. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F.

The B-52 AFMC Test Assets project will provide funding for the test aircraft, manpower, and facilities at the Air Force Test Center located at Edwards AFB, California. The project will support the development testing and Bomber Modular Data Acquisition System (BMDAS) integration on B-52 test aircraft. The project can support Programmed Depot Maintenance (PDM) costs supporting test aircraft modifications occurring at Tinker AFB, OK. Costs include, but are not limited to, any analysis, documentation, and related expenses necessary to establish a program of record and support the B-52 weapon system. Additionally, other costs include Program Management Administration (PMA) and centralized support and initiatives for anticipated weapon system enhancements (to include efforts to improve weapon system operational capabilities, safety, supportability, maintainability, reliability, and total cost of ownership). Funds may be used to address requirements including, but not limited to, emerging and short notice Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) for both aircraft and associated training systems, Development Testing (DT), and safety of flight issues. Additionally, funds may accommodate PMA and support, civilian pay expenses, rapid technology insertion, and fulfill Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) or other mandates necessary to ensure continued aircrew safety and mission effectiveness. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F.

In response to urgent warfighter needs, the Resilient Operational Capability Suite (ROCS) program connects B-52 to the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Battle Management Network (BMN) to bring resilient and reliable Beyond Line-Of-Sight (BLOS) capability and an open computing environment. The program will install antennas, aerial networked, software defined radio communications with embedded cryptography, aircraft integration/computing interfaces, and aircrew peripheral devices on the B-52 aircraft. The aircraft integration, testing, and installation includes Group A components such as an equipment rack, mounts, and wiring needed to connect B-52 to the BMN system of systems enabling robust, aerial network connectivity and data dissemination. The ROCS program will start with an interim, limited capabilities solution to fill an Air Force Bombers urgent need and then transition to permanent solution with two spirals. The ROCS system shortens the long range kill chain decision cycle, enables in-flight mission objective changes and enhance communications in an open computing environment allowing faster integration of adjacent capabilities to meet mission requirements such as Alternate Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), Digital High Frequency (HF) (ARC-260) BLOS Communications, Directional Line-Of-Sight waveforms, and SATURN enhanced data rate (SEDR) waveforms. Costs include, but are not limited to, any analysis, documentation, and related expenses necessary to establish a program of record and support the B-52 weapon system. Additionally, other costs include Program Management Administration (PMA) and centralized support and initiatives for anticipated weapon system enhancements (to include efforts to improve weapon system operational capabilities, safety, supportability, maintainability, reliability, and total cost of ownership). Funds may be used to address requirements including, but not limited to, emerging and short-notice Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) for aircraft and associated training systems, Development Testing (DT), and safety of flight issues. Additionally, funds may accommodate PMA and support, civilian pay expenses, rapid technology insertion, and fulfill Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) or other mandates necessary to ensure continued aircrew safety and mission effectiveness.