Northrop Grumman to Begin Next Phase of Modernizing B-2 Defensive Systems
14 Février 2013 - 4:00PM
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) will help drive down costs
and speed the availability of new hardware and software upgrades
for the B-2 stealth bomber under a recently awarded contract from
the U.S. Air Force.
The contract covers Technology Development (TD) Phase 2 of a
multiyear effort by Northrop Grumman to modernize the B-2's
defensive management system (DMS). TD Phase 2 is expected to last
approximately three years.
DMS is an electronic warfare system that includes various
antennas and display processors. Northrop Grumman is the Air
Force's prime contractor for the B-2, the flagship of the nation's
long-range strike arsenal.
"TD Phase 2 is the cornerstone of a rapid acquisition initiative
that Northrop Grumman and the government developed to reduce B-2
DMS modernization costs and accelerate the availability of the
latest technologies for the aircraft," said Lauren Stevens,
director of the company's B-2 DMS modernization integrated product
team. "Instead of relying on new hardware and software development,
our initiative takes advantage of mature, proven technologies. It
minimizes nonrecurring costs, and reduces the time and technology
risks associated with fielding new capabilities."
DMS modernization includes a new avionics graphics processor
being developed by Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training,
Owego, N.Y.; and new antennas, which are being developed by L3
Randtron, Menlo, Park, Calif., and Ball Aerospace, Boulder,
Colo.
Northrop Grumman serves as the B-2 system integrator and
developer of the architecture that determines how the aircraft
responds to threat environments. In this role, the company will
integrate all new DMS hardware and requisite software onto the
jet.
"The DMS upgrades demonstrate how Northrop Grumman is using
innovation and thoughtful engineering to address and fulfill key
affordability goals of the Department of Defense," explained Ron
Naylor, director of B-2 Modernization and Transformation for
Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "They also help ensure that the
B-2 will remain the nation's most survivable and most effective
long-range strike system for dealing with sophisticated enemy
threats."
TD Phase 2 of the DMS modernization program will include
continued development and testing of the hardware and software for
the new systems; evaluation, down-select and awarding of the
contract for the new DMS antennas; and preparation by Northrop
Grumman and its suppliers for the next phase of DMS modernization,
known as engineering, manufacturing and development (EMD).
As part of its plan to reduce costs and fielding schedules,
Northrop Grumman accelerated forward into TD Phase 2 many
significant engineering tasks normally conducted during EMD. EMD is
expected to begin in late 2014.
The B-2 is the only long-range, large-payload U.S. aircraft that
can penetrate deeply into access-denied airspace. In concert with
the Air Force's air superiority fleet, which provides airspace
control, and the Air Force's tanker fleet, which enables global
mobility, the B-2 can help protect U.S. interests anywhere in the
world. It can fly more than 6,000 nautical miles unrefueled and
more than 10,000 nautical miles with just one aerial refueling,
giving it the ability to reach any point on the globe within
hours.
The latest B-2 product news and information from Northrop
Grumman is available at
http://www.as.northropgrumman.com/products/b2spirit/index.html.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing
innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems,
cyber security, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to
government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit
www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
CONTACT: Brooks McKinney, APR
310-331-6610 (office)
310-864-3785 (mobile)
brooks.mckinney@ngc.com
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