OKLAHOMA CITY, May 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Northrop Grumman
Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has successfully demonstrated to the U.S.
Air Force that its plans to upgrade key weapons management software
for the B-2 stealth bomber are on track and ready to proceed to the
next level of development.
The company successfully completed the critical design review
(CDR) of the service's Flexible Strike Phase 1 program on Feb
3. Air Force approval of the CDR authorizes Northrop Grumman
to begin development and integration of the new software and
hardware required for the upgrade.
Northrop Grumman is the Air Force's prime contractor for the
B-2, one of the most powerful and survivable long range strike
systems in the world.
"The Flexible Strike software upgrade lays the foundation for
future system enhancements, including the ability to carry multiple
weapon types," said Col. Robert
Strasser, U.S. Air Force, B-2 system program manager and
chief of the B-2 division of the Air Force's Fighters and Bombers
Directorate. "This 'mixed loads' capability will ensure maximum
strategic nuclear and conventional strike capability."
CDR is a key review point in a three-year, $102 million contract awarded to Northrop Grumman
in Aug. 2014. The contract covers the engineering and
manufacturing development (EMD) portion of the Flexible Strike
Phase 1 program.
"The Flexible Strike software upgrade program will give the B-2
a simpler, more powerful way to manage communications with its
weapon systems," said Dave Mazur,
vice president and B-2 program manager, Northrop Grumman Aerospace
Systems. "It will also reduce B-2 maintenance costs, increase
mission flexibility and increase aircraft reliability."
The B-2 currently uses software called an operational flight
program (OFP) to manage the communication between the jet and the
hardware that holds and dispenses its weapons. Under its EMD
contract, Northrop Grumman is replacing several mission-specific
OFPs with a single OFP that can manage all of the B-2's weapons
carriage devices.
The latest B-2 product news and information from Northrop
Grumman is available at http://www.northropgrumman.com/B-2.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing
innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems,
cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and
commercial customers worldwide. Please visit
www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
Logo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121024/LA98563LOGO
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/northrop-grumman-passes-key-design-review-for-b-2-weapons-management-upgrade-program-300089355.html
SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation