Northrop Grumman announced March 17 that it has begun installing the hardware to enable a communications upgrade for the B-2 bomber that will permit the crews to receive battlefield information about 100 times faster than the current comm system, according to the company release. Increment 1 of the B-2’s extremely high frequency satellite communication program “puts in place the high speed data handling infrastructure that the B-2 will need to perform its most advanced communications and weapons delivery missions in the future,” said Col. Kevin Harms, commander of the 702nd Aeronautical Systems Group. In his view, the program is “making solid progress.” Northrop exec Dave Mazur said the Increment 1 installation “also means that we’re nearly done with a significant task of software development, integration, and testing.” Northrop expects to begin flight tests in April.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
