Gabriel Honrada
The US is banking on a long-delayed radar overhaul to give its venerable B-52 bomber sharper eyes and longer reach, a modernization hailed as essential for keeping the Cold War giant relevant in the Pacific. At the same time, questions swirl around spiraling costs, mounting delays and uncertain survivability against China’s growing reach.
This month, The War Zone (TWZ) reported that the US Air Force is preparing to begin long-delayed flight testing of the AN/APQ-188 radar system for its fleet of 76 B-52H bombers, following years of cost overruns and schedule slips. The cost overruns represent a Nunn-McCurdy breach, which requires mandatory congressional notification and may lead to potential program review or termination.
The radar, developed by defense contractor Raytheon and based on the AN/APG-79 used in US Navy F/A-18s, is a key component of the B-52 Radar Modernization Program (RMP), which aims to extend the aircraft’s operational life to 2050.
Lieutenant General Andrew Gebara, speaking at a Mitchell Institute event this month, said the radar is expected to arrive at Edwards Air Force Base “very soon” for testing. However, no firm delivery date was given.
Initially slated for Fiscal Year 2024, flight testing was postponed to Fiscal Year 2026 due to challenges in environmental qualification, parts procurement and software integration.
The radar’s installation has also faced physical integration issues, according to reports from the US Department of Defense (DOD) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The US Air Force has reviewed the radar’s capabilities to reduce costs, prioritizing mission-essential functions over full feature sets.
Once upgraded with new engines and systems, the aircraft will be redesignated B-52J. The operational deployment of the radar is now expected between FY2028 and FY2030.
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