Northrop Grumman officials say the company has completed its upgrade of the B-2’s weapons capability—allowing the stealth bomber to deliver five times its previous load of GPS-guided weapons. The company delivered the 54th “smart” bomb rack assembly earlier this month to the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo. A smart rack-equipped B-2 can deliver 80 500-pound guided bombs.
The United States Air Force is flying less than historic norms and funding for acquisition and readiness is on a path to further hollow out this too small and old force to that is incapable of sustaining an enduring combat air campaign.

