Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Drive are persevering with enhancements to the B-2 Spirit Stealth bomber fleet offering new functionality, together with its first long-range stealth missile. The B-2 efficiently launched a Joint Air-to-Floor Standoff Missile – Prolonged Vary (JASSM-ER) throughout a flight take a look at in December. The JASSM-ER additional enhances the B-2’s skill to hit any goal, wherever. The mixing of JASSM-ER allows the supply of a low observable asset able to touring better distances than its predecessor. JASSM-ER is considered one of three new superior capabilities being launched to the B-2 to additional modernize the platform.
“The unequalled capabilities of the B-2 make it the one lengthy vary, penetrating stealth bomber at present within the U.S. arsenal. Dedicated to continued modernization of the B-2, we’re leveraging our firm’s innovation in digital engineering and its a long time of management in designing and sustaining low observable platforms to maintain the B-2 Spirit mission prepared,” stated Shaugnessy Reynolds, vice chairman and B-2 program supervisor, Northrop Grumman.
Commercial
The B-2 fleet, able to delivering each standard and nuclear ordnance, can be integrating crypto modernization and a Radar Aided Focusing on System (RATS). The newest system developments are a part of built-in practical functionality (IFC) P6.4, which was licensed final 12 months by the Air Drive. RATS will full the newest part of nuclear modernization of the B-2 Spirit. The mixing of RATS permits the B-2 to totally make use of the B-61 mod 12 nuclear bomb. RATS is the important thing ingredient of the nuclear modernization, as GPS is probably not out there throughout a bomber process drive mission.
Crypto modernization additional improves the communications safety of assorted excessive frequency transmissions. The B-2 might now securely make the most of superior communication gadgets sooner or later menace setting. Earlier this 12 months, Northrop Grumman carried out a profitable communications flight take a look at with fashionable cryptology at its Oklahoma Metropolis Weapons System Assist Middle web site. The capabilities of this IFC proceed to place the B-2 fleet as a key part of the Division of Protection’s nuclear triad. It is usually a part of Northrop Grumman’s ongoing modernization efforts leveraging twenty first century know-how incorporating digital engineering.
