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| B-52 bomber. Photo: Wikipedia |
[Avionics Today 10-02-2015] The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a contract to equip the B-52 bomber with Combat Network Communications Technology (CONECT), which aims to enhance the aircraft’s combat capabilities in the digital battle space.
Boeing’s CONECT modernizes communication systems for the B-52 bombers with enhancements that keep the bombers in flight. The USAF and Boeing sped up contract negotiations to ensure the bomber could equip with the technology during scheduled maintenance.
“Each B-52 bomber comes in for program depot maintenance once every four years, and CONECT is installed at that time. We have delivered all previously contracted kits to the Air Force but needed to get additional kits on contract so upgrades could continue on every bomber that comes through — once you miss an aircraft, it is four years before you have another opportunity to touch it. I’m proud of the Boeing team and thankful for our cooperative relationship with the customer that allowed us to complete negotiations so that the remainder of the fleet will receive CONECT,” said Scot Oathout, B-52 program director for Boeing.