Electric Power Generation System Upgrade for B-52 Aircraft

The new Electric Power Generation System from Collins Aerospace will include eight generators per aircraft providing the added redundancy in onboard electrical power necessary to support future B-52 modernization upgrades By DA Staff / 13 Jan 2022

Discover Leading Defense Technology Solutions

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
B-52 bomber aircraft
Follow DA

Boeing has selected Collins Aerospace to upgrade the B-52 bomber aircraft with a new Electric Power Generation System (EPGS) as part of the U.S. Air Force’s ongoing modernization efforts to keep the aircraft flying into the 2050s.

Collins Aerospace will supply a modern EPGS derived from industry-leading commercial technology. The new EPGS will be an upgrade to the B-52’s current 70-year-old system, with more efficient technology that requires less power from the engine to operate. This will contribute to the Air Force’s goal of a 30% improvement in fuel efficiency for the B-52 along with a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions.

The new EPGS will include eight generators per aircraft providing the added redundancy in onboard electrical power necessary to support future B-52 modernization upgrades including radar, avionics and mission systems.

“Collins Aerospace is a leading provider of electric power systems for military platforms and the supplier of choice for virtually all U.S. Air Force aircraft,” said Stan Kottke, vice president, Electric Power Systems for Collins Aerospace. “Our new EPGS for the B-52 will leverage proven commercial technology to support greener aircraft operation while also paving the way for future platform enhancements that will extend the operational service life of the Stratofortress for decades to come.”

Collins Aerospace expects to create more than 60 jobs to support the B-52 EPGS program at its Electric Power Systems Center of Excellence in Rockford, Illinois.

The company currently supplies several systems for the aircraft and is actively working with the Air Force and the plane’s manufacturer to explore how it can support further B-52 modernization efforts, including communications and avionics upgrades.

Posted by DA Staff Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

SmallSat & Space Access Summit 2025 to Convene Key Industry Experts

DSI has announced the 8th Annual SmallSat & Space Access Summit, taking place June 25–26, 2025, in National Harbor, MD, featuring discussions on small satellite technology and space access solutions

May 14, 2025
Textron Systems Advances Naval sUSV Capabilities with TSUNAMI Delivery

Textron Systems has delivered its first TSUNAMI autonomous surface vessel to NSWC Dahlgren, supporting research, testing, and development of future naval capabilities

May 14, 2025
Tactical Digital Communication Platform for Real-Time Battlefield Awareness

Savox has launched the Savox Bridge, a secure and reliable military communications system for challenging tactical environments

May 14, 2025
Enhancing Defense Operations with Efficient Collaborative Robots

Explore how Elite Robots, represented in the U.S. by KT Technical Solutions, is equipping defense operations with safe, flexible cobots that enhance efficiency, safety, and mission readiness.

May 14, 2025
Q&A: Sunhillo’s Advanced Surveillance Solutions Power U.S. Military Operations

In this Q&A, Sunhillo outlines how its surveillance technologies are enhancing U.S. military operations, with real-world deployment examples and innovations in cybersecurity and data integration

May 14, 2025
Next-Gen Group 2 UAS Enters Production with Extended Endurance & Upgrades

Aurora Flight Sciences upgrades the SKIRON-X Group 2 UAS with greater versatility and tactical mission endurance, as well as announcing the hydrogen-powered SKIRON-XLE variant

May 13, 2025

Featured Content

Discover ANELLO’s SiPhOG™ for GNSS-Denied Navigation at XPO25

CEO of ANELLO Photonics, Dr. Mario Paniccia, will present at Xponential 2025 on the company's SiPhOG-based inertial navigation technology in GPS-denied and GNSS-contested environments.

May 09, 2025
U.S. Army Partnership Advances Autonomous Helicopter Logistics Program

The U.S. Army is partnering with Honeywell and Near Earth Autonomy to retrofit Black Hawk helicopters with scalable autonomy kits for uncrewed logistics operations

May 08, 2025
Modular Head-Mounted Digital System for Real-Time Decision Support in Contested Environments

Galvion's new CORTEX™ system integrates compute, power, and data management into a modular helmet-mounted platform designed for modern tactical operations.

May 06, 2025
Advancing Defense Capability Through Strategic Collaboration Defense Advancement works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive defense capabilities forward.