GE Pitches Re-engine Program for 68-year-old B-52 Stratofortress
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The eight-engined B-52 Stratofortress first took to the skies in 1952, served in Vietnam, and continued to operate as a key asset during the Cold War. Although the last one was built in the mid-1960s, the planes have been continually updated, with current plans to keep them in the Air Force’s fleet for about another 20 years.
That would be a pretty good run, but General Electric feels the B-52 could be extended into the 22nd century… if the Air Force partners with them. GE has proposed a re-engining program that would replace the current Pratt & Whitney engines, which are similar to those used on Boeing 707s, with some of their own, which also have a history of use in commercial aircraft.
So, instead of completely swapping out the B-52s in 2040 for the new B-21 Raider stealth bomber, the re-engined B-52s could supplement its younger sibling for up to 70 years. This would allow the B-52 to celebrate 150 years of service in 2102.
But neither the Air Force nor GE is looking to simply preserve the B-52’s legacy. Both see this re-engining option as a way to cuts costs, simplify maintenance, improve reliability, and extend the fleet’s capabilities.
In April the Air Force asked for bids to transition the B-52 from its current engine to a jet engine. So GE sees their proposal for extending the plane’s lifespan beyond 2040 as a competitive advantage for that contract as it goes head to head with Rolls Royce and Pratt & Whitney.
The GE pitch also offers the Air Force a key strategic approach that it had targeted for a while — the ability to implement the same systems used by commercial aircraft. This tactic eliminates a number of potential supply chain issues and provides an organic source of maintenance and reliability-related information.
While a century and a half seems like an unbelievable run for a combat craft, it’s not unprecedented. According to a report on Jalopnik.com, a Russian salvaging ship named the Kommuna has been around since the time of Tsar Nicholas. It launched in 1915 and continues to serve a role in the Russian Navy 105 years later.
Image Credit: Thomas Industry Update