The US Air Force's iconic B-52 Stratofortress is set to receive significant upgrades in the form of the upcoming B-52J, ensuring the model's continued dominance in strategic bombing into the near future.

Known for its long-range, subsonic capabilities, the B-52 has been a cornerstone of US air power for decades.

All of the US Air Force's 76 B-52H bombers are slated to receive upgraded Rolls Royce F130 engines as part of the service's B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program.

Each aircraft is to be re-designated as a B-52J once it receives a new engine.

The US Air Force is expecting to receive more than 600 of the engines.

The first upgraded bombers are expected to enter service in the late 2020s or early 2030s.

New radar, cockpit

The new engines are just part of a raft of upgrades aimed at bolstering the B-52's performance at high subsonic speeds, extending the bomber's operational life to the 2050s and enhancing its combat capabilities.

The B-52J will feature new radar systems and cockpit modernizations, including a crew reduction.

One of the most notable upgrades in the B-52J model is the integration of the AN/APG-79, an active electronically scanned array (AESA) system.

The radar significantly enhances the B-52J's situational awareness and targeting capabilities, replacing its current 1960s radar technology.

It can track multiple targets over extended ranges, providing superior performance that is crucial for missions that require precise targeting and coordination with other aircraft and ground forces.

Another significant upgrade in the B-52J model is the introduction of a glass cockpit that includes four large color multifunction displays to show a variety of flight status information as well as imagery from the new radar.

The cockpit modernization is expected to consolidate the functions of the electronic warfare officer and navigator into a single position, reducing total crew from five to four.

Link 16

The aircraft overhaul will include the addition of Link 16, a communication system for transmitting and exchanging real time tactical data among the US military, NATO and other allies.

Link 16 is a secure, jam-resistant tactical data link that will allow the B-52J to support ongoing strike fighter missions, providing critical support and coordination.

It will enable the B-52J to share targeting data in near-real time with a variety of platforms, including F-35 fighters, US Navy destroyers and submarines, and US Army systems such as the Patriot air defense system and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).

The ability to exchange information and coordinate actions with other units will enhance the B-52J's role as a force multiplier.