Wed, Jan 23, 2008
First B-1 Now Receiving Upgrades at Davis-Monthan
Engineers at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base near Tucson, AZ have
started modifications on the first of dozens of B-1 Lancer bombers
expected to pass through the base in the coming months.
The Arizona Daily Star reports the entire US Air Force active
fleet of 65 swept-wing Lancers will be outfitted with the latest
targeting and surveillance technology. Work is now underway at the
base's Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group on the first of
65 planes; a second one will arrive in February.
Work on the first plane will take another week-and-a-half to
complete, said base spokesman 2nd Lt. Mary Pekas. As many as five
planes will undergo modifications at the base at any given
time.
To decrease the noise impact of the large jets on surrounding
communities, officials have ordered the B-1s to take off and land
from the southeast end of the base, as weather allows.
The modifications include outfitting the aircraft with targeting
pods, that will allow the low-flying planes to send battlefield
images to ground troops and help reduce friendly-fire
incidents.
To install the new technology, the Air Force will need to use
attachment points on the Lancers originally designed for
nuclear-tipped, long range cruise missiles, that were sealed after
the signing of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the US
and then-Soviet Union in 1991.
As the points won't hold nuclear weapons, the unsealings will
still comply with the treaty, said Scott Hines, treaty compliance
officer at the base.
A Boeing contractor is handling the upgrades, as part of a
nearly $3 million contract awarded to Lockheed Martin. It should
take about two years to perform the modifications throughout the
fleet.
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