B-52s undergo upgrade on communications systems

  • Published
  • By Brian Brackens
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Oh. --  In the B-52 Bomber's first major upgrade in more than 20 years, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Fighters and Bombers Directorate recently began the acquisition and installation of the Combat Network Communications Technology (CONECT) throughout the B-52 fleet.

CONECT is an advanced communications system that started as a result of challenges the aircraft faced in communicating with other forces in joint operations.

The program is designed to give B-52 aircrews a better understanding of events on the ground by increasing the amount of information that is available to them, including real-time intelligence feeds on moving maps. In addition, CONECT will make it easier to send and receive information.

"The B-52 is one of the most flexible weapons systems that the Air Force has," said Mike Schenck, B-52 CONECT program manager. "It's able to carry the largest array of weapons in the Air Force inventory. In order to be more useful in future missions, crew members will need to be able to communicate more effectively and not only does CONECT increase communications capabilities, but it provides access to intelligence information, and improves the crews' awareness of the battle space environment."

Before CONECT, B-52 aircrews relied on radio transmissions to identify a target. The crew would write down the coordinates and manually input them into their weapons system. CONECT minimizes the potential for error.

According to Marvin Black, the deputy program manager for CONECT, the testing and development of CONECT took eight years and approximately $400 million.

He also said 30 CONECT kits have been brought for a total of $180 million with final installation of the system fleet-wide planned for 2021.

"If this upgrade didn't happen, the B-52 would have eventually got to the point where it couldn't operate in today's net-centric environment and still be an effective weapons system platform," said Black. "So we are excited about getting this capability to the war-fighter and allowing the B-52 to stay relevant in contributing to American air superiority for the next 30 years."