Long Range Stand Off Carriage Equipment

Background
The US Air Force, through the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Nuclear Weapons Acquisition Division at Eglin AFB (AFNWC/NDBD) and in partnership with the B-52 System Program Office is conducting market research to identify potential business sources interested in providing B-52 Bomber Weapon Interface Equipment (BWIE) manufacture and integration capability. The Carriage Equipment to be produced include the B-52 Suspension Underwing Unit (SUU)-72 conversion to SUU-103; Common Strategic Rotary Launcher (CSRL)/Conventional Rotary Launcher (CRL) conversion to the Nuclear Rotary Launcher (NRL); and manufacture of a Nuclear Stores Interface Unit inserted into SUU-103 and NRL. The Government’s intent is for industry to produce all three items simultaneously for field integration on the B-52.

Work Details
LRSO B-52 aircraft integration incorporates two pieces of refurbished and updated B-52 BWIE Alternate Mission Equipment (AME). Carriage Equipment (CE) to be worked on includes the SUU-72 Pylon (external store) and the CSRL/CRL (internal store). Once BWIE update is complete, the modified SUU-72 Pylon will be designated SUU-103 and the modified CRL/CSRL will be designated the Nuclear Rotary Launcher (NRL). Additionally, within the SUU-103 and NRL is a Nuclear Stores Interface Unit (NSIU) that facilitates communication between the B-52 and the LRSO CM. The electronic interface between platform and store is designed to update connections to meet current MIL-STD-1760 requirements and enhance nuclear hardness. Production will be a steppingstone process as existing equipment will be pulled from operational units or 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG), refurbished and upgraded to meet B-52/LRSO BWIE requirements.