ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- The 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron received upgraded Internal Slingable Units at Ellsworth Air Force Base, April 10, 2017.
The ISU-90 is a rapidly deployable container capable of housing bulk items to be shipped to different combatant commands worldwide.
Air Force Global Strike Command has identified a requirement for each combat-capable B-1 bomber squadron to have a consumable readiness spares package, the items transported inside the ISU-90, assigned to their unit to support contingency requirements.
“We are replacing and providing a better combat capability for the Pacific Air Force Command commanders,” said Master Sgt. Jessica Young, aircraft parts store and mobility readiness spares parts section chief assigned to the 28th LRS. “Maintenance is [in the area of responsibility], but they need the supplies. The ISU-90 provides those supplies for at those locations.”
The upgraded units have modular storage bins installed that are capable of housing mass amounts of consumable parts such as screws and bolts for the B-1.
“A five-member team from the 28th LRS will stock the new ISU-90s and perform asset requisitioning, which is requesting the items and materials necessary to stock and produce a consumable readiness spares package,” said Master Sgt. Velma Wynn, the material management flight chief assigned to the 28th LRS. “It should take three to four weeks to complete one unit.”
The 28th LRS is looking to place 50 items inside each column of each drawer. Each ISU-90 is labeled alphabetically and assigned different locations for specific materials in any container.
“The storage ability of these new units come from the containers having a locking mechanism,” Young said. “It is able to pass the air-worthiness inspection. When the aircraft [transporting the ISU] is moving, the parts inside the container are locked in.”
The ISU-90 upgrade improves the coordination and packaging of supplies and spare parts for the B-1. These containers allow the B-1s to remain mission ready to support combatant commanders.