EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Jan. 31, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and the U.S. Air Force have successfully demonstrated the integration of a munition on the B-2 stealth bomber that incorporates an improved, penetrating warhead with an upgraded guidance kit.
"The demonstration represents another example of our commitment to maintain the B-2's flexibility to employ a variety of advanced weapons," said Mike Galaway, director of B-2 product development and delivery at Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector. "We also want to ensure that the nation's No. 1 long-range strike asset remains the most versatile and lethal bomber in the inventory."
During the demonstration at the Utah Test and Training Range at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, a B-2 delivered a live GBU-28C/B bomb with a new BLU-122 warhead, destroying the target. The 5,000-pound GBU-28C/B is a follow-on to the EGBU-28B/B that was successfully integrated on the B-2 in 2003. Improvements to the GBU-28C/B allow it to penetrate the target more deeply. The BLU-122 warhead and the upgraded guidance kit were integrated by Raytheon Missile Systems.
As the B-2 prime contractor, Northrop Grumman is responsible for integrating weapons with the B-2 system. Northrop Grumman has now successfully completed the key objectives associated with a $5.4 million contract awarded by the Air Force in February 2005 for GBU-28C/B integration.
Northrop Grumman and the Air Force are also working on several projects to improve the B-2's communications, radar and weapons capabilities to enhance the aircraft's ability to respond to emerging worldwide threats. Other projects include a new active electronically scanned array radar antenna, a Link-16 communications system and an upgraded onboard computer processor.
Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems is a premier aerospace and defense systems integration organization. Headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., it designs, develops, produces and supports network-enabled integrated systems and subsystems optimized for use in networks. For its government and civil customers worldwide, Integrated Systems delivers best-value solutions, products and services that support military and homeland defense missions in the areas of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; space access; battle management command and control; and integrated strike warfare.