Nuclear Security & Deterrence Monitor Vol. 20 No. 21
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Nuclear Security & Deterrence Monitor
Article 7 of 7
May 25, 2018

Engine Replacements Will Keep B-52 In Service for Decades: General

By Staff Reports

Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, head of U.S. Air Force Materiel Command, told defense reporters last week she is confident that the B-52 bomber, which the Air Force plans to equip with new engines, can remain in service until 2050. Although the plane is more than 55 years old, it has relatively few flight hours and has fared well in a nearly completed structural integrity review. “It’s got good bones,” she said. “It’s structurally solid. And we think that with the re-engining, we can really drive down the fuel cost.”

Pawlikowski told the reporters that the Air Force is applying predictive maintenance to B-1 bombers and C-5 transports in hopes of replacing parts before they break, thereby reducing down time. The general wants to expand the effort to more aircraft. “We’re very excited about this because we see huge potential to improve aircraft availability and drive down the cost,” she said. “We’re looking at increasing the investment in that to bring it further.”

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NEW: Via public records request, I’ve been able to confirm reporting today that a warrant has been issued for DOE deputy asst. secretary of spent fuel and waste disposition Sam Brinton for another luggage theft, this time at Las Vegas’s Harry Reid airport. (cc: @EMPublications)

DOE spent fuel lead Brinton accused of second luggage theft.



by @BenjaminSWeiss, confirming today's reports with warrant from Las Vegas Metro PD.

Waste has been Emplaced! 🚮

We have finally begun emplacing defense-related transuranic (TRU) waste in Panel 8 of #WIPP.

Read more about the waste emplacement here: https://wipp.energy.gov/wipp_news_20221123-2.asp

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