EHF satellite communications antenna for B-2 bomber to be developed by Northrop Grumman
Posted by John McHale
PALMDALE, Calif., 12 May 2011. Engineers at Northrop Grumman are designing a new antenna system for the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber that now will process battlefield information securely by satellite as much as 100 times faster than current systems.
The U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman a $372 million contract to begin designing the advanced electronically scanned array (AESA) antenna system as part of Increment 2 of the B-2 extremely high frequency (EHF) satellite communications program.
Under terms of contract, the company will complete the preliminary design of the AESA antenna system, demonstrate technology readiness, and prove its functionality using hardware prototypes. The required engineering design, manufacturing, assembly, integration, and test activities will take place at company facilities in Palmdale, El Segundo, and Redondo Beach, Calif.; Dayton, Ohio, and Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. Increment 2 is the largest effort ever undertaken to augment the lethality of the B-2 weapon system.
The three-increment EHF Satcom program is part of an ongoing effort by the Air Force and Northrop Grumman to keep the B-2 fully mission capable against evolving enemy threats.
Increment 1 includes enhancements to the aircraft's processing and communications infrastructure. Increment 2 involves installation of a new communications terminal and the AESA antenna. Increment 3 will integrate the B-2 into the U.S. Department of Defense's Global Information Grid, a worldwide network of information systems, processes and personnel involved in collecting, storing, managing and disseminating information on demand to warfighters, policy makers, and military support personnel.
Northrop Grumman is the Air Force's prime contractor for the B-2, the flagship of the nation's long range strike arsenal and one of the world's most survivable aircraft.
