The MHU-196 Weapons Hydraulic Trailer is a critical Air Force system used to transport, load, and service munitions across bomber and nuclear platforms. Its performance directly supports sortie generation timelines and mission readiness. In cold-weather environments, however, the trailer’s hydraulic systems suffer from degraded performance due to thickened hydraulic fluid, stressed seals, and overburdened pumps. This results in delayed weapons loading, increased downtime, and higher maintenance costs. Interim solutions, such as reservoir heaters and external “boogie skirt” heating, have been fielded but are not effective in sustaining hydraulic performance across the full system. This operational gap creates a risk to munitions handling and sortie generation for AFGSC, and other commands operating in austere or arctic conditions. This challenge presents a clear opportunity to develop an improved thermal management capability for the MHU-196 that ensures reliable operation in extreme environments. The desired outcome is a validated, mission-ready system that maintains hydraulic performance in cold weather, reduces maintenance burden, and extends trailer service life. Such a solution will directly improve sortie generation rates, increase operational resilience, and reduce risks to operators and equipment. Leveraging commercial innovations in heating and insulation technologies, this effort can provide a rapid, low-risk pathway to fielding an effective solution. The project begins at an estimated TRL 4–5, with feasibility already established through earlier analysis, market research, and evaluation of interim heating methods. The goal at the end of Phase II is to achieve TRL 7–8 by developing, integrating, and demonstrating a prototype in relevant operational environments, with a clear roadmap for certification and production. Required efforts will include design and fabrication of a prototype heating system, laboratory and field testing in coldweather conditions, assessment of compliance with nuclear and Air Force standards, and evaluation of logistics, maintainability, and lifecycle cost. The minimum acceptable deliverables for Phase II are a fully integrated prototype demonstrated on an MHU-196 trailer, a test and evaluation report documenting laboratory and field performance, a certification roadmap aligned with nuclear and Air Force requirements, and a transition plan detailing options for scaling and fleet-wide implementation. Advancing this capability through a Direct to Phase II effort ensures accelerated development and transition, closing a validated operational gap and enhancing readiness for critical munitions operations in contested and extreme environments.
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