337th TES conducts SB-15 testing

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Robert Hicks
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron here is testing the Sustainment Block-15 software to determine the effectiveness and suitability of the upgrades.

Each software sustainment block includes changes to navigation, weapon delivery, radar, electrical multiplexing, communication and navigation management system software, controls and displays.

The SB-15 upgrade will be tested in two aircraft configurations. The first configuration is known as the legacy. A legacy jet contains all hardware currently fielded, but has the SB-15 software loaded. The 337th TES currently has two SB-15 legacy aircraft under test at this time.

The second configuration is known as "merge," where Inertial Navigation System Replacement, Reliability and Maintainability Improvement Program and SB-15 software are installed concurrently. This configuration is undergoing developmental test at Edwards AFB, Calif. The 337th TES will begin operational tests on this aircraft later this year.

"SB-15 incorporates the RMIP upgrade and will benefit from increased system reliability," said Maj. Ben Kessler, 53d Test Management Group, Det. 3 director of operations. "The RMIP upgrade does not introduce new combat capability to the B-1, but it does ensure a much longer time between system component failures. For example, the new radar signal processor will improve mean time between failures by over 700 percent. The new Radar Receiver Transmitter will improve MTBF by over 1,500 percent.

"The objective of operational testing is to determine the effectiveness and suitability of upgrades in an operationally representative environment," he added. "While SB-15 does not introduce groundbreaking combat capability, it enhances and refines certain aspects of weapons employment, navigation and radar capabilities. It also addresses software deficiencies identified in previous upgrades and introduces more modern equipment designed to ease some of the maintenance issues with the affected systems."

The monopulse measurement targeting interface, a radar mode that derives the coordinates and elevation of a target, has been redesigned and includes a new capability to select multiple targets using the B-1's radar. In addition, SB-15 enhances MM targeting accuracy by integrating digital terrain elevation data into the targeting solution.

"With this upgrade weapons system officers can use the radar more effectively," said 1st Lt. Diane Barney, 53d TMG Det 3 SB-15 project engineer. "Using a radar ground map, crews are able to pin-point multiple targets on that map and eliminate them on just one pass."

The 337th TES is a geographically-separated unit of the 53rd Wing, located at Eglin AFB, Fla.