B-52H Stratofortress tail number 61-0009, nicknamed "Damage Inc. II," arrived at the Boeing plant near Tinker AFB, Okla. on Jan. 22, where the plane is to serve as an integration model to test new technologies on the bomber. The B-52 is undergoing its biggest modernization effort in its history, the Air Force said.
Pratt & Whitney, manufacturer of the bomber’s decades-old TF33 engines, advocates upgrading them through targeted design changes, which it claims would be the lowest-cost solution. Beyond modifications to keep the B-52 viable as a flying machine, extensive avionics and weapons upgrades continue to be implemented to enhance the aircraft as a
The last bomber to be developed and purchased without huge cost overruns was the B-52, which began development in the late 1940s. Twice in subsequent decades the Air Force launched a new bomber program in order to replace the now-classic B-52, only to see costs rise and production terminated early.