How A Single Test Flight Crash Set Back The B-52J Radar Program By Months

The B-52J radar program was set back by months after a single test-flight crash shortly after takeoff in mid-June 2026. On June 15, 2026, a Boeing B-52H Stratofortress crashed near Edwards Air Force Base, California, killing all eight occupants in the deadliest Stratofortress accident in decades. The aircraft, registered as 60-0061 and named “Spirit of Aggieland II,” had received a new radar system in December 2025 and was serving as a test platform. With a nearly full fuel load, the incident involved an apparently rapid fall of over 5,000 feet per minute and resulted in an unsurvivable fire. Investigators said the cause is still unclear and the probe may take up to six months. Because the radar was the equipment being tested, the B-52J program’s radar timeline has slipped, adding to earlier multi-year engine delays.