Northrop Grumman’s Program Strategy Driving B-21 Raider Forward in Flight Test, Production

Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider program is making nice progress because the staff executes a strong flight check marketing campaign and scales into manufacturing. In collaboration with the U.S. Air Power, Northrop Grumman’s program administration method on B-21 facilities round producibility and adoption of digital know-how to in the end ship an efficient, reasonably priced system to the warfighter that’s adaptable to future threats.

Verifying By Take a look at

Edwards Air Power Base, famend because the “Heart of the Aerospace Testing Universe,” is house to the Mixed Take a look at Power (CTF), made up of Northrop Grumman and Air Power personnel chargeable for evaluating functionality starting from flight sciences and {hardware} performance to mission programs, software program integration and past. Early suggestions from check pilots confirms the primary check car is performing properly in flight and flying just like the simulators used for coaching.

“General, I’m happy to see the efficiency of our check jet. The dealing with qualities are higher than anticipated popping out of the simulated surroundings – validating the accuracy of the digital fashions the staff has developed and analyzed over a few years,” mentioned Chris “Hoss” Moss, B-21 Raider check pilot, Northrop Grumman. Flight testing continues to increase the operational envelope, and mannequin predictions are matching flight check information, demonstrating the worth and efficacy Northrop Grumman’s digital ecosystem is delivering on B-21.

“Flight check is an thrilling time, and we’re making nice progress on B-21,” mentioned Tom Jones, company vice chairman and president, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Programs. “The CTF staff has demonstrated we are able to execute a number of flight check occasions throughout the span of every week. Northrop Grumman’s digital ecosystem is enabling that progress, permitting us to investigate check information, make updates and return to flight check with velocity and effectivity.”

Floor check efficiency is one other important piece of plane growth. Northrop Grumman efficiently verified the B-21 structural design with the completion of static testing, thus validating authentic fashions and signifying a strong structural design. Northrop Grumman has additionally begun fatigue testing on one other floor check article to simulate a lifetime of flight situations on the plane construction.

“The progress we’ve made on B-21 within the final 12 months is outstanding. The constant alignment of our digital fashions each on the bottom and in flight offers us further confidence as we look forward to delivering on B-21,” Jones mentioned.

Scaling Into Manufacturing

One other key technique behind delivering the B-21 Raider was to construct the primary check plane just like the manufacturing plane. Transitioning away from an ordinary trade observe of taking a demonstration-like car to flight check, the B-21 workforce is already accustomed to manufacturing tooling and supplies and has come ahead with modern methods to determine repeatable processes for an optimum construct. 

The B-21 staff has embraced the deployment of superior manufacturing and digital tooling throughout the manufacturing unit. “We’re increasing the usage of augmented actuality instruments and superior robotics to drive effectivity and accuracy with repeatable, precision processes,” Jones mentioned. “Northrop Grumman is discovering modern methods to introduce superior applied sciences in a restricted manufacturing surroundings in the present day, whereas paving the best way for sustainment processes on the depot and flight line of the longer term over the B-21 program life cycle.” For instance, Northrop Grumman manufacturing technicians make the most of augmented actuality headsets to assist set up of subsystem elements and robotic instruments for specialised plane coatings within the manufacturing unit.

Getting ready for Tomorrow, Right now

The driving power underpinning Northrop Grumman’s method on B-21 is delivering the nation’s subsequent gen airborne strategic deterrent to satisfy the menace. These methods are yielding desired outcomes as Northrop Grumman executes the check marketing campaign and scales into manufacturing. The digital ecosystem supporting flight check progress in the present day will allow the longer term know-how and functionality insertion that may preserve B-21 forward of future threats for years to return.