A new targeting system designed and installed on a B-2 bomber in less than six weeks successfully demonstrated Northrop Grumman’s ability to quickly field new capabilities via an open system architecture design, the company announced. The B-2 demonstrated the company’s Open Mission Systems standards developed cooperatively with the Air Force, during a series of test flights at Edwards AFB, Calif. The bomber received targeting information via a ground station from the company’s Gulfstream G550 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance testbed, all employing OMS designed systems, according to a July 20 company release. “This demonstration paves the way for the B-2 weapon system to provide new operational capability well into the future at an affordable cost,” said Brig. Gen. Eric Fick, program executive officer for fighters and bombers at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. “OMS provides us the ability to rapidly incorporate new innovative, affordable, and adaptable capability into our products,” added company aerospace systems president Tom Vice. The successful tests at Edwards took place in June.
The 301st Fighter Wing in Fort Worth, Texas, became the first standalone Reserve unit in the Air Force to get its own F-35s, welcoming the first fighter Nov. 5.