The Composite Airframe Life Extension (CALE) program will concentrate on identifying, developing, demonstrating and validating technology that will allow USAF airframe structural integrity managers to safely extend the certified service lives of airframes currently in the USAF fleet that contain advanced

credit: Flickr

composite primary structure, without widespread replacement of aged structure with new, and without repeating an extensive, complex building block demonstration process.

The CALE program will identify and develop technology to know and/or predict the residual strength, durability and damage tolerance, and reliability of advanced composite structure throughout the original, and if required new service life of the airframe.