A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress has completed a ferry flight to Edwards Air Force Base, California, following installation of a new radar as part of the B-52 Radar Modernization Program, the Air Force announced.
According to a release from Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, the aircraft flew from Boeing’s facility in San Antonio to Edwards on Dec. 8 after receiving a modern Active Electronically Scanned Array radar. The flight marked the first transfer of a B-52 configured with the new radar to a test base for further evaluation.
The aircraft was ferried by a combined crew from the 49th Test Evaluation Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and the 419th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base. The Air Force said the test team will conduct ground and flight testing throughout 2026, with the goal of supporting a production decision later in the year.
The radar upgrade replaces the bomber’s aging legacy radar, which has become increasingly difficult to maintain. The new AESA system is intended to improve all-weather navigation and targeting for the 65-year-old aircraft, extending its operational relevance as part of the Air Force’s long-range strike force.
The radar was developed by Raytheon Technologies and integrated into the B-52 by Boeing. According to the Air Force, the system builds on radar upgrades already fielded on platforms such as the F-15 and the Navy’s F/A-18, bringing similar improvements in capability and sustainment to the B-52 fleet.
“The ferry flight of this upgraded B-52 marks an important moment in our efforts to modernize the bomber force,” Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said. “This radar modernization ensures that the B-52 will continue to serve as a cornerstone of American airpower well into the future. We are committed to extending the life of this vital platform, allowing it to operate alongside next-generation fighter and bomber aircraft.”
The Radar Modernization Program is one element of a broader plan to keep the B-52 in service through at least 2050, and potentially beyond. The aircraft is expected to operate alongside the B-21 Raider, the Air Force’s next-generation strategic bomber.
The Air Force plans to modernize all 76 B-52s in the fleet. In addition to the new radar, the bombers are scheduled to receive new engines, updated crew compartments, upgraded avionics, improved conventional and nuclear communications systems, and expanded weapons integration. These changes are intended to support both conventional missions and tasks directed by U.S. Strategic Command.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach said the radar milestone reflects broader readiness goals. “This milestone ensures our future Airmen inherit a modernized, ready Air Force,” Wilsbach said. “The B-52 Radar Modernization Program is about more than technology, it’s about readiness, deterrence and the ability to fight and win. The B-52 remains a powerful example of how we fly, fix, and fight to sustain global strike capability.”
After arriving at Edwards, the aircraft will undergo extensive testing to validate radar performance across a range of operating conditions. The Air Force said these tests will inform decisions on fleet-wide installation and long-term sustainment planning.
The B-52, manufactured by Boeing and operated by the U.S. Air Force, first entered service in the 1950s. Despite its age, it remains a central element of U.S. bomber operations, valued for its payload capacity, range, and ability to integrate new weapons and sensors.
In a statement, Wilsbach underscored the platform’s enduring role. “The B-52 will continue to serve as an unmatched symbol of U.S. airpower,” he said. “With these upgrades, the aircraft will remain ready to execute our nation’s deterrence and strike missions for decades.”