Six US Air Force B-52 bombers would now be able to carry a greater variety of weapons, thanks to a new weapons cargo bay provided by Boeing.
The new apparatus would allow the B-52 to carry GPS guide bombs and, for the first time, "smart" ammunition.
Improvement transformed the existing rotary sword device into a conventional rotary launcher by increasing the total number of intelligent weapons the B-52 can deliver and providing the crew with greater flexibility to adapt to changing conditions on the battlefield.
The launchers, which can be moved from one bomber to another, are able to launch eight Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs).
Future updates should allow for the mixed transport of air-to-surface missiles and miniaturized radar deceptions.
Jeff Lupton, the program manager, said that "thanks to these improvements, the B-52 bomber will remain in fashion for decades".
