USAF Strike Chief Urges B-52 Engine Replacement

The head of US Air Force Global Strike Command wants the service to consider installing new engines on its aging B-52 fleet, but budget realities could intervene.
While noting that there is no money planned in the fiscal 2016 budget request for such a program, industry representatives have expressed confidence that putting newer engines on the bombers could reduce fuel consumption and sustainment costs.
Improving fuel consumption rates would also cut the number of tankers needed to support bombers during missions.
Industry figures shows that installing new engines on the fleet would pay for itself by the mid-2030s — not as quickly as the service would like, but since current plans call for the B-52 to operate through 2040, one that makes sense.
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