U.S.A.F.’s B-52 Bomber Completes Ferry Flight after AESA Radar Upgrade

A B-52 Stratofortress has arrived at Edwards Air Force Base, California, after completing its ferry flight from Boeing’s San Antonio facility with a newly installed radar under the B-52 Radar Modernization Program.

The flight marks a central step in U.S. efforts to ensure the long-range bomber remains viable for both conventional and nuclear missions, the service said in a statement today.

A crew from the 49th Test Evaluation Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and the 419th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards moved the aircraft on December 8. Ground and flight testing will continue through 2026, supporting a production decision later that year.

The modern Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar system replaces the aircraft's antiquated and failing legacy radar, providing an upgraded all-weather navigation and targeting capability for the 65-year-old strategic bomber to ensure its future effectiveness. The AESA radar, developed by Raytheon Technologies, and integrated into the B-52 by Boeing, follows successful radar upgrades on the U.S. Air Force F-15 and the U.S. Navy F/A-18, and will bring a similar level of capability and maintainability to the venerable B-52.

The radar effort is part of the wider plan to keep the B-52 in service through 2050 and potentially beyond, operating alongside the B-21 Raider. The fleet of 76 aircraft is also set to receive new engines, updated crew stations, conventional and nuclear communication systems, revised avionics, weapons upgrades, and other mission-critical improvements.