Development testing of Conventional Rotary Launcher on B-52 found critical issues

It was suppose to be a straightforward test, but when a B-52H was trying to release its weapons on the modified Conventional Rotary Launcher during development testing, the bomber’s offensive avionics computer processors shut down as the plane flew towards its target.

Bomber force prepares for new B-52 bomb bay upgrade testing
U.S. Air Force photo by Bobbi Zapka


This was just one of the few critical issues discovered by the 419th Flight Test Squadron while testing the B-52 weapons bay upgrade program.

Testers also found out before flight tests commenced that there were interference issues between aircraft components and weapon arming systems.