A B-52 Stratofortress from the 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La., recently traveled to Edwards AFB, Calif., for Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (HERO) testing. The 772nd Test Squadron managed the process at the Benefield Anechoic Facility. It took four days to situate the B-52 physically inside the building, which has a jack and a turntable to recreate in-flight conditions. The HERO testing is meant to ensure the aircraft’s normal electronic operations will not accidentally activate the ordnance it will carry. The anechoic facility also allows faster and more reliable test results because it creates an environment that filters out the kind of electronic signal traffic usually found on a flight line.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
