The upgraded B-1 has reached initial operating capability, thanks to one squadron working on a tight timeline. The 567th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Tinker AFB, Okla., finished the installation of the new Integrated Battle Station on 15 B-1s, one quarter of the fleet, on Dec. 15, two weeks before the deadline, according to a Tinker release. The $980 million upgrades, which aim to extend the service life of the B-1s through 2040, include the Fully Integrated Data Link, the Vertical Situation Display Upgrade, and the Central Integrated Test System. “B-1 aircrews call this a game changer,” said Maj. Derick Wolf, the program manager for the upgrade, in the release. “The modification improves situational awareness, and battlefield communication, reduces crew workload, and supports evolving network centric warfare.” The Air Force last month pulled all B-1s from the US Central Command area of operations for the first time since 2001 so the rest of the fleet could receive the modifications.
Y con un poco de retraso, algo sobre su utilización actual en combate: http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/t ... range.aspx
By Tech. Sgt. Terrica Y. Jones, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs / Published January 14, 2016
AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar (AFNS) -- A B-1B Lancer that achieved rotational milestones is scheduled to leave Al Udeid Air Base soon for a six-month hiatus for aircraft modifications stateside.
The B-1 has been under the operational support of the 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and has set records during the July-January rotation with military members from the 307th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota.
“This rotation has supported a total of 490 sorties and enabled 4,850 bombs to be dropped in six months,” said Capt. Abraham Smith, the 379th EAMXS officer in charge. “When the B-1 leaves this will be the first time since 2001 we won’t have B1s in the area of responsibility.
“Our mission has been to provide safe and reliable combat aircraft to the bomb squadron,” Smith continued. “We’ve supported more bombs dropped in one month than any other B-1 unit.”
The previous Lancer unit supported 1,068 bombs dropped in one month, while the 379th EAMXS has supported 2,224 bombs dropped, he added.
Accomplishments of this magnitude do not come easy, he said, and being able to maintain such a high operational tempo does not come without challenges.
“Hundreds of thousands of manpower hours have been put into the past six months to keep these aircraft running and it’s been a very challenging and an exhausting deployment. However, we’ve found ways to make it enjoyable,” Smith said.
He also added that getting parts for the aging aircraft is a big challenge, but he went on to say that nothing is more satisfying than when they overcome the challenges and fix it. He also said that being able to get the aircraft turned around and back in the fight in a timely manner brings a lot of satisfaction to the team.
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