Block 40/45: major transformation project for 552

Published Jan. 28, 2011
By Brandice J. O'Brien
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- In recent months, the Block 40/45 modification project has gained significant attention. At Tinker, much of the focus has been on the work that is being performed by the 76th Maintenance Wing. But many are unaware that Block 40/45 is also a huge transformation effort for the 552nd Air Control Wing.

The modification project, launched Nov. 22, is a $2.9 billion initiative to upgrade the computer system, ground systems and infrastructure of the AWACS fleet. Boeing is providing parts, equipment and engineering and the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center personnel perform labor, scheduling and planning.

"We are very excited about what's going to come out on the other end," said Col. John Rauch, 552nd ACW commander, at the Block 40/45 commencement on Nov. 18. "Basically for us performing the current mission, everything will be much easier as many of our current manual tasks are automated making it quicker to train people on and easier much easier to process information to pass from that jet.

"You are delivering us increased capability on the same airplane," Colonel Rauch said, "For that, we're really excited."

Known as the biggest upgrade in AWACS history, the modification project will transform the interior of the E-3 Sentry fleet and reduce its weight by 4,000 pounds.

Since its introduction in the late 1970s, the E-3 has kept the original computer equipment. Although the fleet has undergone improvements through the years, it is far from resembling modern-day technology.

Lt. Col. William "Trey" Rogan said as is, the computers are "not a user-friendly intuitive system." The screens have color, but there's no point-and-click arrangement, and icons are one dimensional. If an operator wants to look at a particular area, he needs to download that specific map. If a user needs to send information, he must type out the specific instructions in the Jovial computer language.

"When we hire new computer programmers to work here, we have to backwards train them to the old computer language because nobody trains them to this language anymore," Colonel Rogan said.

As a result of the Block 40/45 modification, consoles will now have 21" flat-panel monitors with a mouse-driven, software-based system.

"It's like moving from the old Commodore 64 to an Xbox 360," Colonel Rogan said.

Of the former stations with seven bulky cabinets, only two will remain. With the extra room, an additional console will be added to the aircraft.

"In the old days, you had to have big, huge pieces of equipment to run computing. But, the computing power on that jet is less than what you have on the laptop in your office," Colonel Rogan said. "But nowadays, you can buy computer cards and reduce the cabinets and the weight on the aircraft."

Colonel Rogan said roughly 3,000 personnel - including flyers, maintainers and programmers - within the 552nd ACW that will be directly affected by the change.

The first aircraft is scheduled to be completed in September and the last of the first six aircraft will be finished in 2014. The 552nd ACW will perform an Initial Operation Test and Evaluation from March to June 2012. The last of the remaining 25 aircraft is expected to roll off the line in 2020.