B-52 sustainment and maintainers supported by innovative defense equipment
Airmen at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, test the new B-52 Stratofortress drag chute stand prototype April 9, 2026. The new stand will reduce shipping footprint and time to assemble/disassemble while increasing stability, availability, reliability, and versatility for packing the chute used in slowing down the B-52 upon landing. (U.S. Air Force photo courtesy of STRIKEWERX)
By Sean Green | Facilitation and Outreach Manager
BOSSIER CITY, La. — Innovative defense equipment for B-52 Stratofortress maintenance has been delivered to Airmen thanks to a partnership between the Cyber Innovation Center (CIC) and GS Engineering.
Via STRIKEWERX, the CIC’s innovation hub for Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), the CIC worked with AFGSC maintainers and industry engineers to reimagine the B-52 drag parachute stand. This stand is used to load parachutes that slow the B-52 down when landing.
“Our partnership with the command has yielded numerous prototypes that range from data analytics for decision makers to covering a hole in the ground for missileers, and this latest delivery is another win for innovation in Global Strike,” said Kevin Nolten, CIC president. “We are excited to work with GS Engineering to realize a new piece of support equipment that makes Airmen’s lives easier and helps sustain a vital airframe for our nation’s Air Force.”
Airmen at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, test the new B-52 Stratofortress drag chute stand prototype April 9, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo courtesy of STRIKEWERX)
Before the stand was delivered, loading the parachute required Airmen to manually roll a three-story-high stand to the tail of the aircraft, hoist, and pack the 200-lb. chute.
The new design will reduce the shipping footprint and the time to assemble/disassemble while increasing stability, availability, reliability, and versatility.
“The B-52 is crucial for our nation’s force projection and deterrence, and maintenance equipment like this new drag chute stand is vital for sustainment of the airframe,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Adam Vasas, AFGSC project champion from the Logistics Innovation Branch. “This prototype is the latest successful delivery in an ongoing partnership with STRIKEWERX, and we look forward to more innovation projects in the future."
GS Engineering is currently evaluating the stand at AFGSC bases to ensure the prototype saves maintenance man-hours, increases overall durability, makes deployment easier, and allows its use for various maintenance tasks.
“This new B52 maintenance stand delivers the safety, transportability, and advanced functionality needed for flightline readiness at a moment's notice,” said Traci Webb, GS Engineering director of business development and marketing. “It was our pleasure to collaborate with the CIC and Air Force Global Strike Command in realizing this capability for our Airmen. This is truly the reason behind Engineering with Purpose at GS Engineering.”
STRIKEWERX hosted a problem definition workshop in 2024 for government and industry partners at the CIC in Bossier City, Louisiana. The problem definition workshop is an expanded market research program that matches solutions to challenges facing AFGSC. Solutions come from individuals, startups, small businesses, large enterprises, academia, and research labs across the country by utilizing design thinking, crowdsourced ideas, and collaborative events to find ways forward.
GS Engineering was contracted in 2025 and delivered a prototype for testing. Pending results, the prototype could be implemented for use across AFGSC.