USAF blames ‘design, production, and installation’ costs for B-52 breach

The U.S. Air Force B-52 Radar Modernization Program (RMP) has exceeded the 15% significant unit cost increase threshold “due to design, production, and installation cost increases,” the Air Force said on Monday.

The Air Force program executive office for bombers at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB), Ohio submitted a program deviation report on B-52 RMP to the service’s acquisition executive office on April 11.

The Air Force has said it has reduced requirements to focus on an initial “minimum viable product” to meet Air Force Global Strike Command needs.

Last July, Air Force officials said that RMP was abutting a significant cost breach and that the program executive office for bombers was re-examining requirements that may be operationally irrelevant or too restrictive–requirements such as the level of fidelity for the new radome—a protective enclosure for radar antennas— and the number of hours required for B-52 “cold starts.”

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.

Exchange Monitor affiliate Defense Daily originally published this article.