Raytheon Technologies : What Raytheon Technologies can do for the B-52 modernization

'The PW800 will never require a scheduled removal during the B-52's expected service life,' Moeller said.

He has the data to back that claim up. Commercial jets typically fly up to eight times more hours per year than the Air Force flies the B-52. By observing how well the PW800 is performing in commercial service, Pratt & Whitney is confident that the engine can power the B-52 for the next 25 years and decades beyond without needing to come off the wing for scheduled maintenance.

The PW800 also offers a solution to an essential aspect of maintaining an engine: sourcing the parts. If the Air Force chooses the PW800, one of the most successful commercial engines in its class, it will be able to source parts from the engine's active production lines for decades into the future.

'The PW800 is at the perfect point in its lifecycle. The U.S. Air Force will get the benefits of a modern commercial engine that is in the growth phase of its lifecycle,' said Moeller, 'but more importantly, this means the robust PW800 sustainment network will remain in place - sustained by commercial market volume - to support the B-52 over its service life until 2050 and beyond. The same can't be said for prior generation commercial engines that are currently late in their lifecycle and won't have a significant commercial footprint years from now.'

The PW800 is also likely to integrate well onto the B-52 - no small consideration, especially given that retrofitting an engine sometimes requires costly alterations to other parts of the plane. In 2018, the Air Force did an integration study that surveyed the top four engine offerings and how they would fit onto the aircraft.

'We confirmed during the integration study that the PW800 is the right fit for the B-52,' said Moeller. 'It's approximately the same diameter as the TF33, thousands of pounds lighter per aircraft reducing wing stresses, and it's going to deliver a significant improvement in fuel burn, range and combat radius. It'll meet or exceed the Air Force's requirements.'

'The improved performance benefits, coupled with Pratt & Whitney's unique experience powering the legendary B-52 since its first flight and the company's extensive expertise integrating commercial engines onto military aircraft, make the PW800 the right choice to power the Stratofortress fleet through 2050 and beyond,' said Moeller.