The U.S. Air Force said on Thursday that the program executive officer for bombers at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center submitted a program deviation report on the B-52 Radar Modernization Program to the service’s acquisition executive on Apr. 11.
“The Air Force is assessing the cost and schedule growth on the program and initial review of the PDR [program deviation report] indicates it will be a significant cost breach,” the Air Force said May 8. “Per 10 USC §2433, a significant breach is the lower threshold and is intended to notify Congress a program is experiencing significant unit cost growth relative to its baseline. The next step in the process is for the Secretary of the Air Force to provide the formal notification to Congress prior to 24 May.”
The dual-capable B-52 bomber delivers the Long Range Standoff cruise missile, which carries the W80-4 warhead. The National Nuclear Security Administration is refurbishing the W80-4 warhead through a life extension program.
As of the fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, the Air Force is permitted to reconvert the bombers for nuclear missions. The bombers were modified to carry out conventional-only missions in accordance with the U.S.-Russian 2010 New START Treaty.
Unit costs for B-52 RMP have increased to 15% over the baseline–a status that represents a significant Nunn-McCurdy breach.
Darlene Costello, acting Air Force acquisition chief, told a congressional hearing on Wednesday that she believes the program will not surpass the 25% “critical” Nunn-McCurdy unit cost threshold.
“I am pretty confident in this, which is why we have decided to continue with the program,” Costello testified. “We believe we can find an affordable way forward to deliver the needed capability.”
A version of this article was first published on Exchange Monitor affiliate Defense Daily.
