Rolls-Royce has moved its F130 engine closer to flight testing for the U.S. Air Force’s B-52J modernisation programme after completing major altitude, sea-level and twin-pod testing. Flight-test engines are being assembled in Indianapolis, with first deliveries expected in April 2027 as the B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program advances towards modification of the first two B-52H aircraft at Boeing’s San Antonio facility.
The programme is intended to replace the B-52’s legacy TF33 engines and support the bomber fleet into the 2050s. Final inlet and nacelle testing continues, including crosswind work at NASA Stennis, while water-ingestion testing in Montreal and endurance testing in Indianapolis are planned for the autumn. The system-level Critical Design Review has already been completed, reducing technical risk before the flight-test phase begins.
Edwards Air Force Base is set to host flight testing once the initial B-52J test aircraft are ready. Rolls-Royce is assembling 20 flight-test engines as the programme shifts from ground validation into preparation for airborne trials.