U.S. Air Force officials have said the service branch is close to a decision on whether to replace the engines of Boeing-built B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft, Defense News reported Monday.Valerie Insinna writes the Air Force Global Strike Command conducted a business case evaluation with engine makers and financial organizations and found that a possible engine replacement would result in long-term fuel and maintenance cost savings.
James Noetzel, deputy chief of the B-52 weapon system team, said the service branch’s acquisition arm has started to look for options on how to fund the engine replacement effort.
Noetzel noted the Air Force plans to buy eight new propulsion systems that resemble the size, thrust and weight of Pratt & Whitney-made TF33 engines.
The military branch also has released two requests for information to seek technical and performance data from engine manufacturers, the report added.
