USAF’s B-52J upgrade advances with new engine review success
The USAF has a total of 76 B-52 aircraft in service. (Photo: USAF / Senior Airman Carlin Leslie)
Rolls-Royce has announced that its F130 engine passed its Critical Design Review (CDR), a key milestone towards the B-52J upgrade for the US Air Force (USAF).
Rolls-Royce has announced that its F130 engine has undergone a successful CDR. The milestone will now allow final development, testing and production to take place for the upgrade of USAF’s B-52J bomber.
The F130 was chosen as the propulsion system for the USAF’s Commercial Engine Replacement Programme (CERP) on its B-52J as part of a US$2.6 billion contract in 2021. Rolls-Royce has spent the last two years developing the F130 – a military version of the BR725 – to replace the bomber’s Pratt & Whitney TR-33 engines.
Candice Bineyard, director of early life cycle and naval programmes – defence at
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
![New US Army UH-60M Black Hawk order bridges uncertain path to MV-75 transition]()
New US Army UH-60M Black Hawk order bridges uncertain path to MV-75 transition
The US$234 million award for 16 Sikorsky UH-60Ms preserves near-term production, but funding uncertainty and an undefinitised contract leave the US Army’s long-term Black Hawk requirements unresolved.
-
![V-22 Osprey safety upgrade moves towards wider fleet installation under $35.5 million deal]()
V-22 Osprey safety upgrade moves towards wider fleet installation under $35.5 million deal
Bell Boeing will supply 73 additional ODSSHI kits as NAVAIR prepares to introduce predictive drive-system monitoring across US and Japanese V-22 fleets.
-
![AFA 2026: US Air Force examines uncrewed cargo aircraft for contested logistics]()
AFA 2026: US Air Force examines uncrewed cargo aircraft for contested logistics
The US Air Force is evaluating demonstrators for uncrewed cargo missions as it considers logistics requirements across the Pacific and other contested environments.
-
![Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad]()
Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad
European counter-drone developers are securing early orders in the Middle East while slow domestic acquisition processes threaten to redirect production capacity, expertise and investment away from Europe.
