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.
An important U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control plane was among the aircraft damaged in a March 27 Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.