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.
The U.S. continued to move a significant amount of airpower toward the Middle East in recent days as talks to forge a nuclear deal with Iran hung in the balance. Flight tracking data indicate there was unusually heavy movement of dozens of fighter jets and other assets that might be…



