<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1cuEnP_0w0oIv1L00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1cuEnP_0w0oIv1L00" width="585" height="468" ><figcaption>U.S. Airman demonstrate the capabilities of a new B-52 Stratfortress towbar prototype at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Sept. 10, 2024. The prototype was designed to take half the pallet space of the current towbar and can be ready for use in 30 minutes. The current towbar takes two days to breakdown and reassemble. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Ted Daigle)</figcaption></figure>Ruston, LA – Louisiana Tech University engineering students have made significant contributions to the development of a new prototype towbar for the B-52 Stratofortress, an effort aimed at enhancing global operations for the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept. The project, a collaboration between Louisiana Tech, STRIKEWERX, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the University of Dayton Research Institute, seeks to improve the transportability and assembly efficiency of the critical equipment.The new towbar prototype, designed with input from senior engineering students Sam Whitsell, Owen Clyde, and Gabe Collier, reduces transport preparation time from two days to under 30 minutes and optimizes space requirements on military cargo aircraft. The towbar, which is vital for moving the B-52 bomber, now breaks down into three compact pieces using flange-style connections, improving upon its original two-piece design from the 1960s.“This effort is about meeting the needs of the Agile Combat Employment concept and having the ability to project bomber power,” said Master Sgt. Justin Countryman, Superintendent of the Logistics Innovation Branch at Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC).The students dedicated more than 180 hours to designing the prototype. Their work began with reviewing hand-drawn designs from the 1960s and conducting hands-on analysis at Barksdale Air Force Base, home to the 307th and 2nd Bomb Wings, where the current towbar is used.Testing of the new towbar prototype is already underway, with maintainers from the 307th and 2nd Bomb Wings tasked with identifying potential weak points before the final design moves into production. “We are trying to break this thing so we can know where to improve it for the final design,” said Countryman. “We want to know where the weak points are before it goes into production.”The Air Force Global Strike Command expects the final design to be ready and available to warfighters by 2025, following extensive testing in various operational conditions.This collaborative project highlights the critical role Louisiana Tech students are playing in supporting U.S. military innovation and reinforces the university’s commitment to applied engineering and real-world problem solving.</div></body>

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LA Tech Engineering Students Develop B-52 Towbar Prototype for Air Force Global Strike Command

Ruston, LA – Louisiana Tech University engineering students have made significant contributions to the development of a new prototype towbar for the B-52 Stratofortress, an effort aimed at enhancing global operations for the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept. The project, a collaboration between Louisiana Tech, STRIKEWERX, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the University of Dayton Research Institute, seeks to improve the transportability and assembly efficiency of the critical equipment.