Defense security/Increasing smart weapons capacity

The US Air Force (USAF) has begun developmental testing of an upgrade that is designed to significantly increase the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress' smart weapons capacity, the service announced on 15 January.

Ground testing at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) in California and at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma of the 1760 Internal Weapons Bay Upgrade (IWBU) enhancement is now under way, with the goal of having all 76 of the USAF's B-52Hs fitted with the upgrade by October 2017.

The 1760 IWBU comes in the form of a modified Conventional Rotary Launcher (CRU) that is installed in the aircraft's internal weapons bay. While previously the B-52 had been able to carry smart weapons only on its underwing pylons, this upgrade will enable the aircraft to carry them internally for the first time.

USAF begins testing of B-52weapons upgrade