Second Test B-52 Being Modified with New Radar After June Crash

Air Force mulls ‘maybe’ pulling B-52s from retirement

A program to upgrade the radar for the Eisenhower-era bomber suffered a tragic setback after a fatal crash in California.

Air Force eyes ‘maybe’ pulling B-52s from retirement

DAYTON, Ohio — The Air Force is weighing whether to pull scrapped B-52 Stratofortresses out of the boneyard, according to an Air Force official, prompted in part by the demands of operations in the Middle East. “We can and have looked at bringing B-52s out of Arizona,” Col. Timothy Spaulding, the Air Force’s portfolio acquisition...

Air Force will resume B-52 radar testing with second bomber following deadly crash

“We need to look at our schedule and adjust as necessary,” a top official said.

Air Force asserts B-52 modernization remains on cost and schedule following June crash

DAYTON, Ohio — After a B-52H Stratofortress test aircraft crashed last month, the Air Force is on track to have a replacement bomber ready to resume testing by the end of 2026, according to service officials. The Air Force is still analyzing what caused a B-52 bomber to crash on June 15 while taking off from Edwards Air Force Base in California on a mission to try out its new radar kit. The incident killed all eight crew members on board. As it …

Second Test B-52 Being Modified with New Radar After June Crash

DAYTON, Ohio—A second B-52H Stratofortress is now being modified with a upgraded radar for testing after the first test bomber crashed in June, and work is expected to be completed by the end of the year, officials said July 27. The development comes as the service is still trying to figure out how to keep the loss of the initial test B-52 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., from setting the Radar Modernization Program back. The Air Force is wo…

Air Force expecting next RMP-modified B-52 to be ready by end of year as crash investigation continues

DAYTON, OH -- Air Force leaders believe the B-52 Stratofortress bomber modernization efforts remain on track both in schedule and cost despite a crash in June that destroyed the first test aircraft for the Radar Modernization Program and took the lives of the eight people on board. A safety investigation board is still analyzing the cause of the crash, Col. Spencer Turner, B-52 system program manager, told reporters here at Life Cycle Industry D…