Northrop Grumman announced Monday that it has received a $372 million contract to design the advanced electronically scanned array antenna that will vastly improve the B-2 bomber’s ability to send and receive battlefield information securely over satellite links. This antenna is part of Increment 2 of the stealth bomber’s three-increment extremely high frequency satellite communications upgrade. This increment is the largest effort ever undertaken to augment the B-2’s lethality, according to the company. “This important enhancement will ensure that the B-2 retains its strategic communications capabilities well into the future,” said Dave Mazur, Northrop’s B-2 program manager. When the upgrade is complete, B-2s will be able to communicate up to 100 times faster than today, says Northrop.
Since President Donald Trump first unveiled his “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative in late January, much of the focus for it has been focused on space—how the Pentagon may deploy dozens, if not hundreds, of sensors and interceptors into orbit to protect the continental U.S. from missile barrages. But the Air…