WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., April 24 (UPI) -- A $14 million contract has been issued for new fuel tanks to be installed on the U.S. Air Force's venerable B-52 bomber.
K-and-F Industries said Monday the order came from Boeing and was placed with the K-and-F subsidiary Engineered Fabrics Corporation (EFC) with deliveries to begin in the first quarter of 2007.
EFC is the only U.S. supplier of FAA-certified polyurethane fuel tanks, which are designed to resist rupture in a crash and are self sealing.
The new fuel tanks are part of a current maintenance and upgrade project designed to extend the life of the B-52 beyond the year 2040, an astounding 80 years since the Air Force's current B-52s were delivered in early days of the Vietnam War.
"EFC was selected due to our high level of technical expertise and the superior construction required in the maintenance and upgrade of this versatile bomber," said K-and-F President Ken Schwartz. "The agreement represents a further expansion of our existing large fleet of military aircraft, and marks the first time K-and-F products will be used on the B-52."
The United States has 94 of the H-model B-52s in service, which were delivered in 1961 and 1962. The aircraft were designed to drop massive loads of conventional bombs as well as nuclear weapons. They have also become a capable launch platform for cruise missiles thanks to their long range and ability to operate at high altitudes.
The bomber's large fuel capacity is a key to that performance. The B-52H carries seven fuel tanks in the fuselage with a combined capacity of 18,000 gallons and a range of 10,000 miles, which makes it capable of carrying out intercontinental missions without the need for refueling. The plane does have the capacity to take on additional jet fuel while in flight.
