Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has been awarded two contracts totaling $23 million by the U.S. Air Force to advance structural sustainment efforts for its aging fleet. The program aims to address material degradation and support structural integrity for the T-38 Talon, A-10 Thunderbolt II, and B-52 Stratofortress—all aircraft that have been in service for more than four decades.
Under the contract, SwRI’s Structural Integrity Group will provide comprehensive analysis to guide inspection schedules and inform the Air Force of necessary structural repairs. This partnership builds on SwRI’s long-standing role in extending the lifespan of military aircraft introduced in the 1960s and 1970s.
“SwRI will support a full spectrum of sustainment activities for these aircraft,” said Luciano Smith, Manager of SwRI’s Structural Integrity Group. “Our evaluations will help the Air Force determine optimal inspection intervals and ensure mission readiness.”
SwRI’s Aerospace Structures Section will perform design assessments, testing, and nondestructive inspections. It will also evaluate flight data recording, usage monitoring, and tracking systems for individual aircraft. In addition to supporting the A-10 and T-38, SwRI will assist in maintaining the B-52 Stratofortress, a heavy bomber initially deployed in the 1950s.
Since the early 1970s, SwRI has collaborated with the Air Force to ensure structural integrity, pioneering advanced inspection tools such as the NASGRO® software, developed with NASA to analyze fracture and fatigue crack growth, and specialized inspection probes to detect hidden structural issues.
The new contracts enable SwRI to continue its mission-critical work, helping the Air Force sustain the structural resilience and performance of its aircraft fleets under simulated real-world conditions.
Reference: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1063468
