Northrop Grumman and a US government team, stretching from California to Virginia, last month successfully tested use of the Link-16 digital data transmission system on USAF’s B-2 stealth bomber. Northrop announced the result Wednesday. Working with the company via a virtual test network were the 412th Test Wing, Edwards AFB, Calif., 82nd Communications Squadron, Langley AFB, Va., and the Joint Interoperability Test Command, Ft. Huachuca, Ariz. Northrop and USAF plan to test the system on an operational B-2 late this year.
In the face of Chinese war plans to disrupt U.S. command-and-control networks in the event of a conflict, the Air Force needs to focus less on its “connect everything” efforts and prepare its combat aviators to fight without a constant connection to higher-ups, according to a new report from AFA’s…
