Boeing and Rolls-Royce tested the B-52 Stratofortress nuclear bomber with new F130 engines

Rolls-Royce has won a tender to reengineer the B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber, which will allow

extend the service life of the aircraft until the 50s of the 21st century. Recently, the British manufacturer tested an aircraft with new engines for the first time.

What is known

The B-52 Stratofortress will receive eight powerRolls-Royce F130 installations. They are easy to maintain and consume much less fuel when compared to Pratt & Whitney TF33-PW-103. Their service ends in 2030. For new engines, the aircraft must be equipped with large compartments.

We predict a windy forecast this #B52sday at #ASC22. ????

The #B52 Commercial Engine Replacement Programcompleted wind tunnel testing using similar models used by engineers in the 1950s to collect data for future flight tests. This ensures the new engines will work as expected. pic.twitter.com/33JYrx7jbD

— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) September 20, 2022

For testing, the company developed the B-52 model.Stratofortress in 1:25 scale. The aircraft was tested in a wind tunnel. As part of the test, a flight speed of almost 1120 km / h was simulated, i.e. approx. 1 Max.

Rolls-Royce signed a contract for the supply of 608F130 engines, spare parts and accessories. The deal is valued at $500 million. However, if the British company succeeds and can meet all the needs of the US Army, the contract value will be increased by more than five times - up to $2.6 billion.

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Note that due to the Pratt &amp; WhitneyThe TF33-PW-103 strategic bomber B-52 Stratofortress is one of the most expensive aircraft to maintain in the entire US Air Force fleet. The cost of one hour of flight is approximately $70,000.

Image: Air Force Magazine