B-2 Spirit: Evolving with Agility

The B-2 Spirit launched a brand new period of stealth expertise and strategic deterrence 35 years in the past when it accomplished its maiden flight on July 17, 1989.

Greater than three a long time later, in partnership with the U.S. Air Power, Northrop Grumman continues to combine groundbreaking expertise into the B-2 that equip it for tomorrow’s struggle, right this moment. The B-2 program lately achieved a significant milestone by offering the bomber with its first fieldable, agile built-in practical functionality known as Spirit Realm 1 (SR 1). SR 1 supplies mission vital functionality upgrades to the communications and weapons programs by way of an open mission programs structure, straight enhancing fight functionality and permitting the fleet to provoke a brand new part of agile software program releases.

“We’re quickly fielding capabilities with zero software program defects by way of the software program manufacturing facility growth ecosystem and additional enhancing the B-2 fleet’s mission effectiveness,” stated Jerry McBrearty, director and B-2 performing program supervisor, Northrop Grumman. “The agile framework methodology inside SR 1 straight helps the Air Power’s initiative to adapt new capabilities within the plane, executing the mission right this moment.”

SR 1 options new shows and flight {hardware} and updates enhancing the B-2’s survivability. SR 1 was totally developed contained in the B-2 Spirit Realm software program manufacturing facility that was established by way of a partnership with Air Power International Strike Command and the B-2 Methods Program Workplace. The profitable integration of the Spirit Realm software program manufacturing facility led the B-2 to grow to be the primary legacy nuclear platform to make the most of the Division of Protection’s DevSecOps processes and digital toolsets.

“Our implementation of software program manufacturing facility is opening new doorways for the B-2 to hold future weapons and superior capabilities that can additional strengthen our nation’s strategic deterrence,” stated Colonel Frank Marino, senior materiel chief, B-2 programs program supervisor, U.S. Air Power.

Spirit Realm leverages built-in digital instruments to design, handle, construct and check B-2 software program extra effectively than ever earlier than. The instruments can even hyperlink with different legacy programs to allow extra fast testing and fielding and assist determine and repair potential dangers earlier within the software program growth course of. This system efficiently demonstrated its agile software program growth capabilities in each flight and lab software program by quickly deploying a software program replace to the built-in check facility the place the software program could possibly be verified and in the end loaded onto the plane.

Because the battlespace evolves, Northrop Grumman continues to outpace the risk by delivering new capabilities in partnership with the U.S. Air Power.