The United States Air Force (USAF) will announce later this month the winner who will produce spare parts and 592 new generation engines for the veteran B-52 bomber, replacing the current TF33. $10 billion will be earmarked for the new engine program.
The expectation is around three manufacturers that presented their proposals to the USAF, among them is Pratt & Whitney with the PW800 engine, Rolls-Royce with its F130 engine, in addition to GE Aviation, which offered the port engine.
With a fleet of 74 B-52 bombers, the high operating cost to keep the bomber operational has been a key point for its continuity, mainly because it is an eight-engined aircraft, which requires a redesign of its engines.
For the beginning of the program, the companies that are competing created digital prototypes, a process that becomes fundamental to speed up the creation of new technologies, in addition to drastically reducing the time for regulatory requirements.
In addition to creating the new engines, the new program also aims to make long-term repairs and maintenance less costly, so the B-52 will be on standby longer for the USAF.
