Northrop Grumman continues to integrate groundbreaking technology into its B-2 Spirit aircraft, which introduced a new era of stealth technology and strategic deterrence 35 years ago.
The aircraft was first introduced 35 years ago when it completed its maiden flight on July 17, 1989.
The B-2 program recently achieved a major milestone by providing the bomber with its first fieldable, agile integrated functional capability called Spirit Realm 1 (SR 1).
SR 1 provides mission critical capability upgrades to the communications and weapons systems via an open mission systems architecture, directly enhancing combat capability and allowing the fleet to initiate a new phase of agile software releases.
Jerry McBrearty, director and B-2 acting program manager said they are “rapidly fielding capabilities with zero software defects through the software factory development ecosystem and further enhancing the B-2 fleet’s mission effectiveness.”
“The agile framework methodology within SR 1 directly supports the Air Force’s initiative to adapt new capabilities in the aircraft, executing the mission today,” he said.
SR 1 includes advanced displays and flight hardware, along with updates that improve the B-2’s survivability.
This development was carried out within the B-2 Spirit Realm software factory, a collaboration between U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command and the B-2 Systems Program Office.
The effective integration of the Spirit Realm software factory made the B-2 the first legacy nuclear platform to implement the Department of Defense’s DevSecOps processes and digital tools.
“Our implementation of software factory is opening new doors for the B-2 to carry future weapons and advanced capabilities that will further strengthen our country’s strategic deterrence,” Colonel Frank Marino who is a senior materiel leader, B-2 systems program manager and part of U.S. Air Force, has also said.
Spirit Realm utilizes advanced digital tools to enhance the efficiency of designing, managing, building, and testing B-2 software.
These tools also integrate with older systems, speeding up testing and deployment while allowing for earlier identification and resolution of potential risks in the development process.
The program effectively showcased its agile development strengths by quickly deploying a software update to the integrated test facility, where it was verified and eventually installed on the aircraft.