Benefitting from greater than three many years of strike and stealth know-how innovation, the B-21 is the following evolution of the U.S. Air Power strategic bomber fleet and the world’s first sixth-generation plane to achieve the skies.
The B-21 Raider continues its flight take a look at marketing campaign at Edwards Air Power Base, California, led by a Mixed Take a look at Power (CTF) comprised of Northrop Grumman and Air Power personnel. CTF pilots point out the jet is performing as anticipated with the plane flying just like the simulator, reflecting the precision of the digital surroundings on B-21.
(Picture Credit score: Northrop Grumman)
B-21 stays on monitor to fulfill its key efficiency parameter for Common Procurement Unit Price (APUC) of $550 million in Base Yr 2010 {dollars}. The federal government has fastened value manufacturing choices for the primary 21 plane. Remaining phrases, amount, and pricing past the primary 21 plane are topic to negotiation. The federal government and Northrop Grumman have established to not exceed pricing for an extra 19 plane.
The typical to not exceed worth for the following heaps is above the typical unit value of the 5 LRIP heaps.
Here’s what that you must find out about Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider because it continues flight take a look at.
Sixth Technology. The B-21 Raider is setting requirements for sixth-generation know-how. On the skin, next-gen stealth and developments in low observable processes will make the plane simpler and less expensive to keep up than prior programs. Inside, the B-21’s open structure will allow speedy upgradability from inclusion of latest weapons to software program upgrades due to superior networking capabilities and profitable cloud surroundings migration.
Manufacturing Focus. A key technique of this system was to construct a manufacturing consultant first take a look at plane. Slightly than a prototype, the B-21 take a look at plane is supplied with mission programs and was constructed by the identical manufacturing technicians utilizing the identical processes and tooling for manufacturing plane. The physique of information and expertise gleaned within the improvement course of helps a clean transition into manufacturing on the trail to delivering operational functionality.
A Digital Plane. Northrop Grumman makes use of agile software program improvement and digital engineering instruments to mitigate manufacturing danger and allow trendy sustainment practices for the B-21 program. Floor testing demonstrated the efficacy of digital modeling with outcomes that outperformed trade requirements, paving the best way for next-gen platforms and programs.
Superior Manufacturing. By embracing the advantages of superior manufacturing, Northrop Grumman invested in a digital ecosystem for the B-21 all through the plane’s lifecycle. From coaching and augmented actuality instruments permitting technicians to visualise duties and clear up issues earlier than ever touching the airplane, to easing integration of provider components on the plane, these developments have decreased danger, supported effectivity and cultivated experience all through the manufacturing workforce.
Sustainment on the Forefront. Sustainment was a program precedence all through the B-21 program’s design part. Along with driving effectivity over the long run, this strategy yields extra near-term advantages and units the B-21 additional alongside on tech information, materiel readiness and coaching which is able to profit the consumer neighborhood upon fielding.
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