B-52 SQUADRONS

Abstract

B-52 System Improvements is a comprehensive project to ensure B-52 viability to perform current and future wartime missions to include datalinks, navigation, sensors, weapons, electronic warfare (EW), and training capabilities. B-52 System Improvements integrates and adds both tactical and global datalink communications for real time command and control, targeting, and intelligence. It upgrades antiquated Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems with those supported by three key functions using satellite technology: Communications, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS). B-52 System Improvements upgrades training devices to support aircrew and maintenance training with the latest B-52 capability. In addition, it improves conventional warfare capability with additional MIL-STD-1760 smart weapons and improved weapons carriage and fully integrates advanced targeting pods with the offensive avionics system. It studies, analyzes, and tests aircraft systems' hardness to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) weapons effects, such as Low Level Continuous Wave (LLCW) and High altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) Survivability tests. It upgrades mission critical systems to survive in CBRN environments. B-52 System Improvements upgrades or replaces legacy defensive EW systems to include the radar warning receiver, jammers, chaff and flare dispensers and situational awareness displays as well as integration of offensive EW such as the Miniature Air-Launched Decoy (MALD) and MALD-Jammer (MALD-J). Engineering Studies & Analysis and Test & Evaluation B-52 System Improvements funds test activities at the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC), engineering and planning studies for potential future weapon system enhancements (weapons, sensors, avionics, and EW) and emerging requirement on current projects, upgrades to the B-52 Systems Integration Laboratory (SIL), Avionics Integration Support Facility (AISF), and Weapon System Trainers (WSTs and other operations/maintenance trainers), and weapon system operational/safety, supportability, reliability, and Total Ownership Cost (TOC) improvements. Additional Efforts B-52 System Improvements funds additional efforts that stem from the operation and maintenance of a 50-plus-year-old aircraft, such as parts obsolescence, Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS), and emerging requirements to add to or maintain the existing capabilities. Examples include, but are not limited to upgrades to radar,outdated avionics computers, communications and security updates,mission planning interfaces to Joint Mission Planning Software (JMPS), Air Force Mission Support System (AFMSS), upgrades to the EW suite, and studies and analysis. All B-52 development projects support planned requirements for unique identification in their production phases. B-52 COMBAT NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (CONECT) (BPAC 675050) The B-52 CONECT acquisition project supports nuclear and conventional operations by upgrading the B-52 fleet with tactical datalink and voice communications capabilities along with improved threat and situational awareness to support participation in network centric operations. The CONECT upgrade includes new Multi-Functional Color Displays (MFCDs) and a digital interphone system, which will survive and function through the nuclear environment to enhance crew interaction and situational awareness. To enable net centric operations, the CONECT upgrade integrates: on-board client/server architecture supporting distributed processing with independent control functions; UHF Beyond Line-Of-Sight (BLOS) Joint Range Extension (JRE) capability via ARC-210 Warrior radio to exchange J-Series messaging within theater; Intelligence Broadcast Receiver (IBR); limited Internet Protocol (IP) based UHF BLOS link supporting voice, e-mail and file transfers; and Improved Data Modem (IDM)-based digital Variable Message Format (VMF) datalink to significantly enhance close air support (CAS) missions. This integrated suite will provide the B-52 fleet with a machine-to-machine data transfer capability supporting aircraft re-tasking and retargeting of Conventional Air Launched Cruise Missile (CALCM) and J-series weapons across the range of B-52 military operations and missions. This requirement's Capability Production Document (CPD) was validated by the Air Force Requirement's Oversight Council (AFROC) on 16 September 2008. Trainers and Upgrades for CONECT In order to maintain currency with the latest aircraft configuration, the CONECT project will update existing trainers or use computer-based training to add CONECT functionality to meet user-training requirements, and update/maintain the SIL for the WSTs. B-52 1760 INTERNAL WEAPONS BAY UPGRADE (IWBU) (BPAC 675048) The 1760 IWBU requires the integration of the 1760 weapons capability into the bomb bay on 78 B-52H aircraft, which includes two Ground Instructional Training Aircraft (GITA), utilizing 44 Common Strategic Rotary Launcher (CSRLs) converted into Conventional Rotary Launchers (CRLs), where three of the CRLs will be modified under Engineering Manufacturing and Development (EMD) for test purposes. This requirement's Capability Development Document (CDD) was validated by the AFROCC in June 2013. The 1760 IWBU project provides internal and external carriage for eight MIL STD 1760 weapons and consists of two sub increments: 1.1 and 1.2. Increment 1.1 consists of internal carriage of eight Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) and variants, to include Laser JDAM (L/JDAM), on a conventional rotary launcher. Additionally, this increment develops the capability for external carriage for 16 L/JDAM on Heavy Storage Adaptor Beam. Increment 1.2 develops the capability for internal carriage of eight Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) and its variants, to include JASSM-Extended Range (JASSM-ER), and eight Miniature Air Launched Decoys (MALD) and its variants, to include MALD Jammer (MALD-J). This increment also develops the capability for external carriage for 12 JASSM-ER. GPS-INTERFACE UNIT (GPS-IU)REPLACEMENT (BPAC 675055) Global Positioning System (GPS) Interface Unit (IU) Upgrade will replace three circuit card assemblies in the GPS-IU, as well as the backplane (to integrate the new and old CCAs): the Central Processing Unit/1553, the power supply CCA, and the video graphics card. These projects are in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2016
• Source ID: 0101113F_7_3600_PB_2016
• Change Summary Explanation: FY14: -$.526M SBIR FY15: -$6.0M Congressional Mark (CONECT)Improving Funds Management: Forward Financing. FY16: +$0.050M for B-52 System Improvements +$4.813M to correct CONECT Weapon System Trainer +$3.000M for GPS-IU Replacement +$4.015M realignment of CONECT APAF to RDT&E
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms
• Counter WMD
• Energy and Power Technologies
• Space
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Air Force
• Aircrafts
• Computer Programs
• Computer-Aided Instruction
• Contracts
• Cost Analysis
• Electronic Warfare
• Global Positioning Systems
• Manufacturing
• Navigation
• Network Protocols
• Satellite Guided Weapons
• Software Development
• Test And Evaluation
• Warfare
• Weapons Effects

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering
• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.

Technology Areas

• Directed Energy
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Microelectronics
• Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems
• Space