The US Air Force’s first B-52H bomber equipped with the new Raytheon AN/APQ-188 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar has arrived at Edwards Air Force Base for critical testing, a major milestone in transforming the Cold War-era aircraft into the modernized B-52J. The radar, adapted from the F/A-18 Super Hornet’s AN/APG-79, is essential for keeping the venerable “BUFF” relevant alongside next-generation stealth bombers.
For over six decades, the B-52 Stratofortress has been a symbol of American airpower, its iconic silhouette a constant in an ever-changing world. But to fly and fight for another 30 years, it needs a 21st-century set of eyes. Now, after years of development challenges, the first glimpse of that new vision has touched down in the California desert, marking a pivotal step in the bomber’s most significant upgrade since the Vietnam War.
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The aircraft, fresh from modification in San Antonio, has arrived at Edwards Air Force Base to begin rigorous testing of its new AN/APQ-188 Bomber Modernized Radar System, developed by Raytheon. This system replaces the old, mechanically scanned AN/APQ-166 radar with a modern Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA), a technology derived directly from the combat-proven AN/APG-79 radar used on U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers, according to the US Air Force.
“The ferry flight of this upgraded B-52 marks an important moment in our efforts to modernize the bomber force,” stated Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink. “This radar modernization ensures that the B-52 will continue to serve as a cornerstone of American airpower well into the future.”
Integrating a fighter jet’s radar into the B-52’s unique, bulbous nose has been a formidable engineering challenge, contributing to program delays and cost overruns. The Pentagon’s testing office noted the Air Force had to “refine the system radome design to address aircraft integration issues,” warning that the final shape could impact performance. Photos reveal the bomber’s external profile remains largely unchanged, with the AESA array mounted at a downward angle within the lower section of the nose—an orientation optimized for the B-52’s primary air-to-surface mission, though it limits upward-looking capability.
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Despite the hurdles, the capability leap is undeniable. An AESA radar provides greater range, superior resolution, and enhanced resistance to enemy jamming. For the B-52J, this means dramatically improved target identification, the ability to guide advanced networked munitions over long distances, and powerful secondary capabilities like ground surveillance and electronic warfare. The radar’s lack of moving parts also promises far greater reliability than the antiquated system it replaces.
Inside the cockpit, the upgrade is equally transformative. The new system introduces two high-definition 8×20-inch touchscreen displays and fighter-like hand controllers at the navigator stations, replacing vintage analog gauges with a modern digital interface. This allows crews to manage the radar’s sophisticated functions and interpret its data far more effectively.
The radar is just one part of the sweeping B-52J modernization. The most consequential change will be the replacement of the bomber’s eight original TF-33 engines with new, fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce F130 turbofans. While that program also faces delays, the combined upgrades are designed to ensure the 76 B-52s in the fleet can operate reliably alongside the new B-21 Raider stealth bomber through 2050.
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With the test aircraft now at Edwards, the Air Force will conduct a year of ground and flight evaluations. A successful test campaign will lead to a production decision to equip the entire fleet, with initial operational capability for the new radar targeted between 2028 and 2030. For a bomber that first flew when Eisenhower was president, its new fighter-derived eyes are the clearest sign yet that its final chapter will be its most technologically advanced.
