Boeing will carry out modifications and testing on two B-52 aircraft as part of the contract. Credit: Bruno Ismael Silva Alves/Shutterstock.com.

The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded Boeing Defense Systems a task order valued at $2.04bn for the B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP) through the Post-Critical Design Review (PCDR) development phase.

Under this agreement, Boeing will complete system integration work and carry out modifications and testing on two B-52 aircraft, fitting them with new engines and related subsystems.

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Work will take place at sites in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Seattle, Washington; San Antonio, Texas; and Indianapolis, Indiana.

The project is scheduled for completion by 31 May 2033.

Funding for the programme will be distributed incrementally, beginning with $35.77m from fiscal year 2026 research, development, test and evaluation funds upon award.

Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma is serving as the contracting authority for this effort.

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The CERP forms a component of a larger initiative that aims to upgrade the 76 B-52H Stratofortress aircraft of the Air Force to the B-52J configuration, The Aviationist reported.

This process involves replacing the existing TF33 engines with Rolls-Royce F130 engines and follows the Critical Design Review completed in December 2024.

Last month, the USAF signed a Lot 12 contract with Boeing valued at $2.47bn for the delivery of 15 more KC-46A Pegasus aerial refuelling aircraft. With this order, there are now 183 KC-46A tankers either on contract or in service worldwide.

The USAF has received 98 aircraft to date, while other deliveries include six aircraft to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and four contracted units for the Israel Air Force.

Recent contracts for the aircraft also cover mission readiness and performance upgrades awarded in July 2024.

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