The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has received a U.S. Air Force contract worth up to $150 million to support new weapons integration efforts on the B-52H bomber.
Work on the B-52 Smart Weapons Integration Next Generation (SWING) will be performed by engineers based at the company's Integrated Defense Systems facility in Wichita, Kansas. The contract expires December 2020.
"This contract will allow us to continue to make the B-52 one of the most modern weapons systems in the world," said Scot Oathout, B-52 program director for Boeing. "Subsequent contract modifications will support integration of other next generation weapons in years to come."
Such weapons systems include the Extended Range versions of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser and Joint Direct Attack Munitions and possibly the integration of the Small Diameter Bomb and Boost Phase Interceptor.
The contract will also be used to integrate the Universal Armament Interface -- the next generation interface between the mission planning system, aircraft platform, and weapons -- onto the B-52.