Boeing upgrading U.S. Air Force B-52s

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OKLAHOMA CITY, May 7 (UPI) -- A major communications upgrade for U.S. Air Force B-52 bombers is in the works under a $76 million contract given to Boeing.

The upgrade, which begins in the latter part of 2014, will allow B-52 aircrew to send and receive information by using satellite links, allow changing of mission plans in flight and also retarget weapons in flight.

Other enhancements will include a state-of-the-art computing network with workstations at each crew position and an integrated digital interphone with increased capacity.

"We are bringing this amazing workhorse of a bomber into the digital age and giving our customer the infrastructure necessary for continued future improvements," said Scot Oathout, Boeing B-52 program director.

The Combat Network Communications Technology contract will cover low rate initial production of the first CONECT kits, spare parts, maintenance and service at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.