Parts obsolescence forces redesign and remanufacture of AN/ASK-7 data-transfer avionics for B-52 bomber
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. – U.S. Air Force combat avionics experts needed a company to redesign and remanufacture the AN/ASK-7 data-transfer system for the B-52 bomber aircraft. They found their solution from Kihomac Inc. in Reston, Va.
Officials of the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency-Aviation at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., announced a $9.4 million contract to Kihomac on Thursday for the design and production of the AN/ASK-7 data-transfer system, generally because of large-scale parts obsolescence.
The AN/ASK-7 also is called the B-52 data-interface unit, and loads and stores B-52 mission software and captures fault data for maintenance purposes aboard the large bomber.
The AN/ASK-7 provides the means of transferring mission data from air force mission support system to the B-52 bomber aircraft and provides information to the B-52 avionics computer units via the 1553A databus.
The AN/ASK-7 is a mission-critical item and an offensive avionics system on the B-52H. It contains hardness-critical items that if damaged or compromised can degrade system survivability in a nuclear, biological, or chemical environment if systems designers do not consider hardness.
Air Force avionics experts say the AN/ASK-7 cannot simply be upgraded or modernized because the system has serious obsolescence issues. The original system has 10 parts that are obsolete with no known replacements across the circuit cards.
Related: Avionics designers plan for another decade with the 1553 databus
Instead, Kihomac avionics engineers will redesign and remanufacture the data-transfer system from scratch, and will consider obsolescence mitigation as part of the job. The B-52 is an old aircraft; it's been in service since 1955, and its latest version, the B-52H, has been flying since 1961.
Kihomac designers will build a form, fit, function, and interface drop-in replacement for the legacy AN/ASK-7, and will use current nonproprietary parts and technology with qualified sources defined by drawings and specifications.
On this contract Kihomac will do the work in Virginia and Utah, and should be finished by September 2026. For more information contact Kihomac online at www.kihomac.com, or the Defense Logistics Agency-Aviation at www.dla.mil/Aviation.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
