A new targeting system designed and installed on a B-2 bomber in less than six weeks successfully demonstrated Northrop Grumman’s ability to quickly field new capabilities via an open system architecture design, the company announced. The B-2 demonstrated the company’s Open Mission Systems standards developed cooperatively with the Air Force, during a series of test flights at Edwards AFB, Calif. The bomber received targeting information via a ground station from the company’s Gulfstream G550 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance testbed, all employing OMS designed systems, according to a July 20 company release. “This demonstration paves the way for the B-2 weapon system to provide new operational capability well into the future at an affordable cost,” said Brig. Gen. Eric Fick, program executive officer for fighters and bombers at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. “OMS provides us the ability to rapidly incorporate new innovative, affordable, and adaptable capability into our products,” added company aerospace systems president Tom Vice. The successful tests at Edwards took place in June.
The Air Force plans to have its new Integrated Capabilities Command stood up by the end of 2024, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said May 2, offering new details of one of the signature reforms announced by the service earlier this year. Allvin said around 500-800 Airmen will…