A reliability upgrade package for the B-1B Lancer’s strike radar successfully finished operational flight and ground trials at Dyess AFB, Tex. Replacing the radar’s transmitter, receiver, processing computer, and software, the Reliability and Maintainability Improvement Program promises increased availability. “The existing B-1 radar system is more than 20 years old and has not had a hardware upgrade since it was initially fielded in 1985,” said SSgt. Trevor Helm, B-1 crew chief with Dyess’ 337the Test and Evaluation Squadron. “Prior to RMIP, we were losing a lot of time by having to continuously replace parts on the radar system,” explained Helm. “RMIP increases the mean time between failures of the current radar system by nine times that amount, significantly increasing B-1 aircraft availability,” added Lt. Col. George Holland, 337th TES commander. B-1Bs at Dyess and Ellsworth AFB, S.D., will begin receiving the upgrades in March. (Dyess report by A1C Charles Rivezzo)
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.