B-1 radar replacement mod completes first flight Published April 27, 2010 By Jennifer Hogan Boeing Global Services & Support EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- After five years of development and ground testing, the B-1 Lancer bomber radar replacement program successfully completed its first test flight April 20, launching from Edwards and landing as planned at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The Radar Reliability and Maintainability Improvement Program upgrade is required to avoid fleet grounding because of radar component obsolescence. "The current B-1 APQ-164 radar has multiple parts that are becoming obsolete and unsupportable," said Bill Wu, RMIP program manager. "We are replacing them with the modern components so our customer can repair and operate the radar system, which is critical to B-1 operations." In addition to the hardware effort, the program upgraded most of the radar software from a 1970s era Jovial to the modern supportable C++ computer language. The RMIP modification was installed on the Test aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base by Boeing and Air Force workers. Boeing completed the installation and checkout ground testing as well as the electromagnetic interference and compatibility aircraft testing. Both activities were approved by the Air Force April 19 in support of the first flight. "This first flight test was a success," said Mr. Wu. "The radar weather detection mode was demonstrated along with high resolution ground mapping and precision position update capabilities." RMIP flight test will continue through September to ensure the new components meet all of the performance requirements while improving supportability. The first production aircraft modification is planned for 2011.