Aeronautical Systems Center engaged a small business vendor, ITCN, Inc., in Centerville, Ohio, to help develop a better means for B-2 bomber maintainers to identify avionics problems—it worked. The prototype databus will help B-2 technicians isolate wiring cable problems to within six to 12 inches, which means they can find “performance discrepancies with pinpoint accuracy,” improving B-2 mission readiness, reports ASC’s Bruce Long. ASC expects to field the prototype unit at Whiteman AFB, Mo., sometime this month for further testing.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
