{"id":32450,"date":"2020-10-09T19:07:04","date_gmt":"2020-10-09T19:07:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/10\/09\/the-air-force-updated-the-software-on-one-of-its-oldest-aircraft-while-it-was-in-the-air\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:39:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:39:42","slug":"the-air-force-updated-the-software-on-one-of-its-oldest-aircraft-while-it-was-in-the-air","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2020\/10\/09\/the-air-force-updated-the-software-on-one-of-its-oldest-aircraft-while-it-was-in-the-air\/","title":{"rendered":"US Air Force sends software updates to one of its oldest aircraft midair"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Correction posted on 10\/19\/20 at 8:32 EST: The first in-flight software update occurred onboard a U-2 on Oct. 18, 2020. The Oct. 7 test marked the first use of Kubernetes on a U.S. military aircraft.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WASHINGTON \u2014 For the first time, the U.S. Air Force <a href=\"https:\/\/www.c4isrnet.com\/battlefield-tech\/it-networks\/2020\/09\/15\/updating-software-in-flight-the-air-force-may-be-close\" target=_blank>updated the software code<\/a> on one of its aircraft while it was in flight, the service announced Oct. 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And there\u2019s a surprise twist: The aircraft involved wasn\u2019t the \u201cflying computer\u201d F-35, the mysterious B-21 bomber still under development, or any of the Air Force\u2019s newest and most high-tech jets. Instead, the service tested the technology aboard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/congress\/budget\/2017\/05\/23\/stayin-alive-no-retirement-in-sight-for-the-a-10-and-u-2\/\" target=_blank>the U-2 spy plane,<\/a> one of the oldest and most iconic aircraft in the Air Force\u2019s inventory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Sept. 22, the U-2 Federal Laboratory successfully updated the software of a U-2 from the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, which was engaged in a training flight near Beale Air Force Base, California, the Air Force said in a news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To push the software code from the developer on the ground to the U-2 in flight, the Air Force used Kubernetes, a containerized system that allows users to automate the deployment and management of software applications. The technology was originally created by Google and is currently maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the demonstration, the U-2 lab employed Kubernetes to \u201crun advanced machine-learning algorithms\u201d to the four flight-certified computers onboard the U-2, modifying the software without negatively affecting the aircraft\u2019s flight or mission systems, the service said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe successful combination of the U-2\u2032s legacy computer system with the modern Kubernetes software was a critical milestone for the development of software containerization on existing Air Force weapon systems,\u201d said Nicolas Chaillan, the Air Force\u2019s chief software officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During a Sept. 15 interview with C4ISRNET, Chaillan hinted that the service would soon be able to update the software of flying aircraft, calling the capability a \u201cgamechanger\u201d and describing the challenges involved with ensuring the aircraft could be updated without posing a safety risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe need to decouple the flight controls, the [open-mission systems], all the air worthiness piece of the software from the rest of the mission [and] capability of [that] software so we can update those more frequently without disrupting or putting lives at risk when it comes to the flying piece of the jet or the system,\u201d Chaillan said then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In its news release, the Air Force did not elaborate on the nature of the software update pushed to the U-2 or how it was validated or how the aircraft was modified for the demonstration. A spokesperson for the 9th Reconnaissance Wing did not respond to questions from Defense News by press time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Col. Heather Fox, 9th RW commander, said the demonstration could pave the way for more experiments using the U-2 as a test bed for agile software development activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe integration of Kubernetes onto the U-2 capitalizes on the aircraft\u2019s high-altitude line of sight and makes it even more survivable in a contested environment,\u201d she said. \u201cWe look forward to working with other platforms across the [Department of Defense] to export this incredible capability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 9th RW is the only unit that operates the 33 U-2s owned by the Air Force. Although the aircraft first flew in 1955 \u2014 a full 65 years ago \u2014 the small cadre of pilots that fly it have sought to preserve its viability, and have taken an unusual direct role in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2018\/01\/04\/with-u-2-safe-operators-vie-for-greater-investment\/\" target=_blank>shaping aircraft improvements and upgrades<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Members of the wing\u2019s 99th Reconnaissance Squadron <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2017\/12\/08\/one-u-2-squadron-wants-to-be-the-silicon-valley-of-the-air-force\/\" target=_blank>told Defense News in 2017<\/a> about efforts to build a stronger relationship with Silicon Valley, with members sometimes working directly with the base\u2019s contracting personnel to buy off-the shelf goods like Garmin watches or tablets, or signing agreements with major tech companies to evaluate new products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 9th RW also works closely with the U-2 Federal Laboratory, which was established to develop new software for the U-2 and test it in a safe environment, as well as with operators, software coders and acquisitions professionals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The demonstration marked the first time the Defense Department has modified an aircraft&#8217;s code in 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