Ageles wonder B-52 bomber to be upgraded with advanced computing and communications technology BOEING FRONTIERS / JULY 2013 21 The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, known affectionately by those who fly it as BUFF (for Big Ugly Fat Fellow) is one of the longest-serving combat aircraft in aviation history. It has received numerous upgrades over the years to make it even more effective as a long-range bomber that can handle whatever mission might be assigned. The U.S. Air Force recently awarded Boeing a contract, known as CONECT, to upgrade the Air Force’s B-52H fleet. With Boeing support, installation will be performed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. The first CONECT kit is scheduled for delivery to the Air Force in late 2014. Among other improvements, the upgrade will mean B-52 crews will be able to re-task missions and re-target weapons in flight. CONECT includes a modern computing network with workstations at each crew position and an integrated digital interphone with greater capacity. “The B-52 has been an amazing performer throughout history,” said Scot Oathout, Boeing B-52 program director. “CONECT builds upon that great design and gives the B-52 crews the tools they need for today’s and tomorrow’s missions.” When the first of the 8-engine bombers rolled out of Plant 2 in Seattle in March 1954, its systems had less computing power than a modern cellphone. Now, it’s about to receive a 21st-century computing and communications suite created by Boeing engineers. With the new system, Oathout said, B-52 crews will be able to communicate digitally with anybody using several different methods. That includes sending emails and files, and running Windowsbased applications. It’s a little like going from a 1960s telephone, he said, to current WiFi technology. n For more on the B-52 and its amazing longevity, see the March 2011 issue of Frontiers. PHOTO: A Boeing B-52H bomber from the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana is shown during the “Cope North” air-defense exercise near Guam earlier this year. The exercise involved military aircraft from the United States, Australia and Japan. JIM HASELTINE/HIGH-G PRODUCTIONS
Frontiers July 2013 Issue
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