In the United States, gathered to redesign the parts of the heat exchangers of the stealth bombers B-2 Spirit
The White House has formally called on American industry to take part in the modernization of some key parts of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. The American columnist Tom Newdick tried to understand the reasons for this appeal.
The problem with heat exchangers at B-2
Citing national security analyst Mark Thompson's government oversight project, Newdick writes that the redesign involves redesigning heat exchanger parts, as well as developing a stacking, vacuum brazing and welding process for new heat exchanger cores. Newdick recalls that the B-2 heat exchanger uses air and ethylene glycol to cool the aircraft engine.
As Mark Thompson emphasizes, the engineers are expected to provide technical data related to heat exchanger disassembly, cores, vacuum brazing and installation of cores on existing units. The technical data of the tools used for disassembly, assembly of rods, vacuum brazing of rods, processing after soldering, installation of rods should also be provided. The final design must meet the test requirements contained in government technical orders.
Finding it difficult to explain why exactly this approach was decided to be applied in the American government, Newdick writes that the very statement of the question indicates the absence of projects or production processes and tools for the production of these parts. It is possible that the projects and tools were so secret that "at some point they were simply destroyed." Also, parts could be produced by a small contractor, who has long ceased to operate and, therefore, projects and tools have also sunk into obscurity with him.
It is also worth noting that American bombers aviation periodically undergo overhaul, in the process of which innovative technologies are used. The more modern parts are installed in airplanes, the longer they will last and the easier the process of their maintenance will be. Probably, the military department is guided by these considerations too, having gathered to redesign parts for the heat exchangers of the B-2 Spirit stealth bombers.
Recent developments in cooling technology make the redesign process faster and more reliable. In addition, the military already has experience of similar appeals to industry. Previously, the US Air Force looked to industrialists for an advanced automated 3D scanning system to replicate aircraft parts that are no longer in production. Digital technology will help redesign the B-2 stealth bombers.
If we talk about the modernization of the B-2, then it is assumed that it will be possible to use a 3D scanner to scan the original parts and create a virtual model, after which the engineers would start designing and creating new drawings. The next step would be to manufacture new heat exchanger parts.
Incidentally, the B-52H Stratofortress also benefited from reverse engineering as Mission Support Inc. signed a contract with the US Air Force for the overhaul of the aircraft engine bypass channels. The lack of technical data forced the company to use modern computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD / CAM) technologies to ensure that new parts were installed correctly.
Air Force goes digital for parts redesign
As noted in the US press, this practice has been implemented by the US military department for quite some time. Specifically, there is the 402nd Electronic Maintenance Group, which redesigns and manufactures avionics, and is located at the Warner Robins Air Logistic (ALC) logistics complex at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. The main task of this group is precisely to provide old weapons systems with new parts.
If we are unable to receive or locate parts to repair or replace equipment, we go back to the customer or supply chain with that item and ask them what they want from us.
- said in a press release of the Air Force, the head of the 402 group J. Brown.
It is worth noting that as the average age of aircraft in the US Air Force fleet continues to increase, the demand for redesigned parts that have long been discontinued is likely to increase. For example, shortly before his retirement, former Air Force Assistant Secretary for Procurement, Technology and Logistics Will Roper told Air Force Magazine that he dreams of his desire to get a "digital view of every piece of Air Force inventory."
Overall, Newdick concludes, the B-2 fleet part redesign program is in line with the current general trend of the US Air Force towards the latest digital technology. A small fleet of stealth bombers in this regard is the best suited for testing the possibilities of redesigning key parts.
In addition, digitally upgrading the B-2 stealth bombers will extend their useful life and preserve these aircraft for a certain period of time as an effective tool of American military policy.
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