B-52 Radar Testing Resumes After Fatal Crash Kills Eight Crew Members
The U.S. Air Force is modifying a second B-52H Stratofortress with an upgraded AN/APQ-188 radar at Boeing’s San Antonio facility, following the June 15 crash of the first test aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, California, which killed all eight crew members. The Radar Modernization Program, part of upgrading 75 B-52Hs to the B-52J standard for service into the 2050s, faces delays and a Nunn-McCurdy cost breach. Testing is expected to resume after the second aircraft’s modification is completed in 2026.
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Reports are grouped by semantic similarity and deterministic rules. Language models may assist titles, summaries, translation and cross-source analysis; the page itself is projected from evidence records.
- Current automated evidence projection
Cross-source coverage
Wire timeline
Air Force to Resume B-52 Radar Testing with Second Bomber After Fatal Crash
The U.S. Air Force plans to resume B-52 radar modernization testing using a second Stratofortress after a June 15 crash in California killed an eight-person crew. The crash occurred during a test flight for the radar modernization program, which aims to keep 75 Cold War-era bombers operational into the 2050s. Program officials stated at the Life Cycle Industry Days conference that modification of a second test aircraft is ongoing and expected to be completed this year. The crash may add to persistent program delays, as only one test aircraft had been completed prior to the incident. The radar modernization program has faced heavy criticism, including a Nunn-McCurdy Act breach due to cost overruns and warnings from the Government Accountability Office about limited flight testing. Officials acknowledged the need to adjust the schedule but claimed the program remains on track. The modernized bombers will be designated B-52J.
Air Force to Resume B-52 Radar Testing with Second Bomber After Fatal Crash
The U.S. Air Force plans to resume B-52 radar modernization testing using a second Stratofortress after a June 15 crash killed an eight-person crew in California. The crash, part of the radar modernization program aimed at keeping 75 Cold War-era bombers operational until the 2050s, paused flight tests. Program officials stated at the Life Cycle Industry Days conference that modification of a second test aircraft is ongoing and expected to be completed this year. The program has faced delays and cost overruns, including a Nunn-McCurdy Act breach. Col. Spencer Turner acknowledged the crash was not in the original schedule and adjustments may be needed. The upgraded bombers, designated B-52J, are intended to serve alongside B-21 Raiders in the future long-range fleet.
Air Force to Resume B-52 Radar Testing with Second Bomber After Fatal Crash
The U.S. Air Force plans to resume B-52 radar modernization testing using a second Stratofortress after a June 15 crash in California killed all eight crew members during a test flight. The radar upgrade, part of a program to keep 75 Cold War-era bombers operational into the 2050s, had only one test aircraft completed before the accident. Program officials, speaking at the Life Cycle Industry Days conference in Dayton, Ohio, stated that modification of the second aircraft is ongoing and expected to be completed this year. The crash may add to persistent program delays and cost overruns, which previously triggered a Nunn-McCurdy Act breach. The Government Accountability Office has warned that limited flight testing before production could lead to costly rework. The modernized bombers, designated B-52J, are intended to serve alongside B-21 Raiders in the Air Force's long-range fleet.
Show 3 older updatesHide older updates
Second Test B-52 Being Modified with New Radar After June Crash
A second B-52H Stratofortress is being modified with an upgraded AN/APQ-188 active electronically scanned array radar at Boeing's San Antonio facility, following the June 15 crash of the first test bomber at Edwards Air Force Base, which killed all eight crew members. The Air Force's Radar Modernization Program, part of a broader effort to upgrade 75 B-52Hs to the B-52J standard for service into the 2050s, has faced challenges including a Nunn-McCurdy cost breach. Col. Spencer Turner, B-52 system program manager, stated that radar installation on the second bomber is ongoing and expected to be completed in 2026. The crash has delayed testing, and the program team is supporting the accident investigation board while reassessing schedules and acquisition timelines to ensure on-time delivery of the capability to warfighters.
Second B-52 Test Aircraft Gets New Radar After Fatal June Crash
The U.S. Air Force is modifying a second B-52H Stratofortress with an upgraded AN/APQ-188 radar for testing, following the June 15 crash of the first test aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, which killed all eight crew members. The radar installation is being performed at Boeing's San Antonio facility and is expected to be completed in 2026. The Radar Modernization Program, part of a broader effort to upgrade 75 B-52Hs to the B-52J standard, has faced challenges including a Nunn-McCurdy cost breach that forced a scope reduction. Colonel Spencer Turner, B-52 system program manager, stated the crash was not in the original schedule and that the team is supporting the accident investigation while adjusting acquisition timelines to ensure on-time delivery of the capability to warfighters.
Second B-52 Test Aircraft Gets New Radar After Fatal June Crash
A second B-52H Stratofortress is being modified with an upgraded AN/APQ-188 active electronically scanned array radar at Boeing's San Antonio facility, following the June 15 crash of the first test aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, which killed all eight crew members. Col. Spencer Turner, B-52 system program manager, stated that the installation is ongoing and expected to be completed in 2026, though testing timelines remain uncertain. The crash has delayed the Radar Modernization Program, which already faced a Nunn-McCurdy cost breach and scope reduction. The Air Force plans to modernize 75 B-52Hs to the B-52J standard, including new engines and radar, to keep the bombers operational into the 2050s. The accident investigation board's findings will influence future program adjustments.