As the United States Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber entered its 35th year of service, it received a new set of capability upgrades known as Spirit Realm 1 (SR 1).
According to Northrop Grumman, this is the first field able, agile integrated functional capability for the B-2 bomber.
SR1 provides mission-critical capability upgrades to the communications and weapons systems via an open mission systems architecture, directly enhancing combat capability and allowing the fleet to initiate a new phase of agile software releases.
The upgrades will allow the B-2 stealth bomber to maintain its relevance and remain a cornerstone of the US Air Force’s fleet.
B-2 bomber upgrades
According to Northrop Grumman, SR1 was developed inside the B-2 Spirit Realm software factory, established through a partnership with Air Force Global Strike Command and the B-2 Systems Program Office.
The integration of the Spirit Realm software factory made the B-2 the first legacy nuclear platform to utilize the Department of Defense’s DevSecOps processes and digital toolsets.
“We are rapidly fielding capabilities with zero software defects through the software factory development ecosystem and further enhancing the B-2 fleet’s mission effectiveness,” said Jerry McBrearty, director and B-2 acting program manager, Northrop Grumman, according to a release by the company.
“The agile framework methodology within SR 1 directly supports the Air Force’s initiative to adapt new capabilities in the aircraft, executing the mission today.”
Spirit Realm uses integrated digital tools to design, manage, build, and test B-2 software more efficiently. One of the other benefits is that the tools can link with other legacy systems to enable quicker testing and fielding.
It can also fix potential risks earlier in the software development process.
SR-1 upgrade increases relevance of the stealth aircraft
The SR1 program successfully demonstrated its agile software development capabilities in both flight and lab software by rapidly deploying a software update to the integrated test facility where the software could be verified and ultimately loaded onto the aircraft.
“Our implementation of software factory is opening new doors for the B-2 to carry future weapons and advanced capabilities that will further strengthen our country’s strategic deterrence,” said Colonel Frank Marino, senior materiel leader, B-2 systems program manager, U.S. Air Force.
These upgrades will serve the B-2 stealth bomber until the late 2020s or early 2030s, when it will be replaced by the new generation B-21 Raider.
In addition to helping out with communications and weapons, the upgrade provides the B-2 with new cockpit displays, according to a report by The War Zone .
The report also mentions that the upgrade could now make it possible to integrate the new 5,000-pound-class GBU-72/B bunker-buster bomb with the B-2 stealth bomber.
Earlier last year, the B-2 Spirit had become the first US warplane to get cleared for carrying the B61-12, the newest nuclear bomb on the block.
The B61 series is one of the longest-serving weapons in the US stockpile, the first iteration debuting in the 1960s. The B61-3, -4, and -7 remain part of the nuclear lineup available with the U.S., even as plans are afoot to phase them out.
Most Popular
Comments / 0