It was a historic day for Edwards Air Force Base as the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber marked its return to this testing ground on July 17 – 35 years since its maiden flight took off from Air Force Plant 42 here in Palmdale, California.
And now, the aircraft known to the world as the Spirit of Pennsylvania will be ushered into major technological overhauls that will position it firmly at the forefront of weapons of war in the arsenal of the U.S. Air Force.
The return of the B-2 to Edwards is not an act of nostalgia, but a strategic move with a purpose to reintegrate new capabilities.
Of course, one of the key thrusts of this new campaign revolves around testing the Spirit Realm 1, also known as open mission systems architecture.
The upgrade promises to boost the bomber’s communications and weapons systems, thereby becoming an even more potent tool in combat.
Maj. Stephen Henderson, assistant director of operations with the 419th Flight Test Squadron, flew the B-2 back to Edwards.
He touched on the importance of the upgrade, saying, “This is the first time that we are going to do agile software development with Spirit Realm, so that is a big change for us. We are projected to work on that heavily this fall.”
Underlining this development was Jerry McBrearty, Northrop Grumman’s Vice President and B-2 Program Manager: “Regenerating flight test is an exciting time for the B-2 as we begin fielding new capabilities through the B-2 Spirit Realm software factory ecosystem and work hand in hand through the Combined Test Force,” he said.
This agile framework methodology within SR 1 lends direct support to adapting the Air Force’s initiative of taking in new capabilities within the aircraft in executing the mission today.
Already an important part of the U.S. Air Force’s long-range strategic bombing capabilities, the B-2 Spirit can carry up to sixteen B-61 or megaton-yield B-83 nuclear gravity bombs.
The aircraft’s avionics are designed to be hardy against nuclear electromagnetic pulses and remain the only accepted aircraft known to be capable of carrying large air-to-surface standoff weapons in a stealth configuration.
Combined Test Force The 419th FLTS will be supported by the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center and Northrop Grumman, driving the testing effort. Col. Joseph Little, Commander, AFOTEC Detachment 5, Edwards said, “This aircraft enables Operational Test to integrate test points alongside our 412th TW and 53rd WG teammates and serves as another opportunity to conduct integrated test.
We must continue to modernize, survive, and test that aircraft up until it is formally relieved from that obligation.”
In the concept of Global Power Competition, the return of the B-2 to Edwards AFB, in itself, becomes a testament to the Air Force’s commitment to continued superior technological superiority.
Its upgrade and future tests will ensure it stays competitive in modern warfare, further cementing its strategic asset role for years to come.