A rendering of the new design for the B-52 parachute drag stand. GS Engineering and the CIC have contracted to redevelop the Air Force Global Strike Command equipment to make it more durable, deployable, and versatile. (Graphic courtesy of GS Engineering)
By Sean Green | CIC Communications Manager
BOSSIER CITY, La. — The Cyber Innovation Center (CIC) has contracted with GS Engineering to redevelop maintenance equipment for the B-52 Stratofortress.
Via its STRIKEWERX initiative, the innovation hub for Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), the CIC will foster collaboration between AFGSC subject matter experts 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.
Currently, loading the parachute requires Airmen to manually roll a three-story-high stand to the tail of the aircraft, hoist, and pack the 200-lb. chute. The current stand cannot be deployed or assembled/disassembled quickly, requires a large shipping footprint, and needs frequent repairs.
The new design will reduce the shipping footprint and the time to assemble/disassemble while increasing stability, availability, reliability, and versatility.
“This new Drag Chute Stand will support rapidly changing mobility requirements such as Agile Combat Employment,” said Master Sgt. Adam Vasas, project champion in the AFGSC Logistics Innovation Office at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. “We are looking forward to a final product that is an uncomplicated, obtainable, updated multi-purpose drag chute stand.”
GS Engineering is confident that their design and testing at AFGSC bases will yield a final product that saves maintenance man-hours, increases overall durability, makes deployment easier, and allows its use for various maintenance tasks.
“We are thrilled to partner with the CIC to design and deliver a new drag chute stand for AFGSC. Our team of engineers thrives on tackling problems; creating concepts and taking them through detail design into hands-on, fully functional and tested prototypes,” said Logan Edwards, program manager for GS Engineering.
STRIKEWERX hosted a problem definition workshop in May 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.
“We are continuing to work with our partners in the AFGSC Office of the Chief Scientist to find the best business and industry for prototyping innovative solutions that will revitalize our nuclear enterprise and bolster our national security,” said Kevin Nolten, CIC president.
Following the design phase, the prototype solution will undergo testing and evaluation. Pending results, the prototype could be implemented for use by AFGSC.
About the Cyber Innovation Center
Cyber Innovation Center (CIC), located in Bossier City, Louisiana, is the anchor of the 3,000-acre National Cyber Research Park and serves as the catalyst for the development and expansion of a knowledge-based workforce throughout the region. As a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation, CIC fosters collaboration among its partners and accelerates technology, research, and development. One of its primary missions is to develop a sustainable knowledge-based workforce that can support the growing needs of government, industry, and academic partners.
About GS Engineering
GS Engineering, Inc. is a full-service, integrated engineering firm delivering professional solutions to the United States Government, OEMs, component suppliers, and end-users across diverse industries. Founded in 2001 in Houghton, Michigan, we specialize in design and analysis, product development, instrumented field testing, systems engineering, and technology insertion. Our expertise spans lightweight structures, dynamic simulation, and systems integration for ground vehicles and aircraft, supporting sectors from military and aerospace to automotive and off-highway construction. With over 90 dedicated professionals, GS Engineering leverages advanced technologies to solve complex challenges, ensuring that our clients’ success is our success.