Originally Posted by
tdracer
Not too sure how much corporate prestige there is in the re-engine of a 1950's bomber - heck most people don't know who makes the engines in the F-22 or B-2.
That being said, the RB211-535 (from the 757) was the leading contender when we were looking at this in the late 1990's - the plan being to replace each two engine pod with a single RB211. Being basically an analog engine (no FADEC) with throttle cables would have made the integration into an analog aircraft somewhat easier.
I believe extensive studies were performed at the time and the complications were more significant than first realised. The reduction in fuel burn over the rest of the life-time of the fleet wasn't enough to justify the risk, even though, as now, the fuel cost savings would essentially, in theory, pay for the upgrade. A non-US solution was also an issue, as usual.