Boeing's digital upgrade of B-52s to be completed soon

The U.S. Air Force's entire fleet of B-52 bombers will soon be equipped with up-to-date digital communications to enhance their combat capabilities.

Boeing, contracted for the work in August, said successful negotiations for the the B-52 bomber Combat Network Communications Technology, or CONECT, means that modernization of the aircraft will continue uninterrupted.

"The multifunction, critical capability that CONECT provides for the B-52 was at risk for missing kit installation schedule," said Renee Sauerland, B-52 CONECT project manager for the Air Force. "Boeing and the Air Force's collaborative effort to reduce the kit contracting process by 50 percent paved the way to deliver on-time, quality war-fighting capabilities.

"Parallel efforts, which required early participation, communication and coordination from Boeing, sub-tier suppliers, DCAA and DCMA were key in making CONECT a success!"

DCAA is the Defense Contract Audit Agency; MCMA is the Defense Contract Management Agency.

"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," Boeing B-52 Program Director Scot Oathout said.

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