Northrop Grumman announced Tuesday that its industry team has completed the system development and demonstration phase of the program to modernize the radars on the Air Force’s B-2A stealth bombers. “The completion of SDD adds momentum and confidence to our work equipping the B-2 fleet with the most modern radar technology,” said Dave Mazur, Northrop’s B-2 program manager. SDD included installing the new Raytheon-supplied radar gear, including advanced electronically scanned array antennas, on the B-2 test aircraft and first group of operational B-2s as well as delivering the spare parts for them. The program is now in its full-rate production phase, with installation of the new gear on all 20 B-2s expected to be complete in 2012, according to Northrop.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth claimed “a historic military victory” after the U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire late April 7, even as he and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine said American forces will remain “ready” to resume operations should the ceasefire expire without a longer peace deal.
