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.

FMI: www.dm.af.mil, www.boeing.com