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.
The Air Force has begun flying its CV-22 Ospreys again. But that is just the start of a multi-step process to return the fleet to normal operations following a deadly crash last year, the service says.