Boeing announced Thursday that the inaugural test flight of the first B-52H bomber with upgraded communications gear took place earlier this month at Edwards AFB, Calif. During the three-hour-plus flight on Jan. 17, the aircrew engaged the new combat network communications technology, or CONECT, package to determine that there were no adverse effects on flight-essential systems, said the company. The upgrade allows B-52 aircrews to receive and send real-time, digital information in flight, augmenting current voice-based communications. “Completion of the first test flight brings us one step closer to giving command centers and troops on the ground the ability to communicate with the B-52 through the military’s digital information network,” said Jim Kroening, Boeing B-52 development programs manager. Ground and flight testing will continue through February, after which the aircraft will go to depot for planned maintenance. The upgraded B-52 arrived last August at Edwards.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
