B-2 Squadrons

Abstract

The B-2 is currently undergoing modernization of avionics/communications systems, engines, armament systems, low observable components, core training system components, aircraft supportability improvements, and support equipment development. The Air Force will also study multiple structural, avionics, and engine modifications that could improve the performance of the aircraft and engines and reduce maintenance man-hours and the logistics footprint of the fleet. Focus of the studies will be on non-mission capable (maintenance) drivers, safety issues, and obsolescence issues through modernization of key components in the airframe, avionics, and engines resulting in improved aircraft availability of a high demand/low density fleet. Modern communications are key enablers for the B-2 in the anti-access/area denial battlespace, and directly enhance lethality and force multiplication. The Common Very Low Frequency (VLF) Receiver effort (CVR) develops and integrates a receive-only, low bandwidth receiver and antenna subsystem to provide a secure, survivable strategic nuclear communication capability for the B-2. The B-2 Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) Satellite Communications (SATCOM) system provides secure, strategic, two-way, survivable Anti-Access/Area Denial communications capability for conventional and nuclear missions. The B-2 AEHF SATCOM program is terminated in the FY 2019 Budget. B-2 Armament upgrades integrate new and/or advanced weapons on the B-2 to attack a wider array of target sets, to include hardened, deeply buried targets, as well as destroy more targets per sortie. Upgrades includes Flex Strike and JASSM-ER integration. The Low Observable Signature and Supportability Modifications (LOSSM) program supports the B-2 ability to penetrate anti-access combat environments, performing missions directed by the National Command Authority while ensuring aircrew survivability. The LOSSM program reduces low observable (LO) maintenance, and stabilizes and improves the combat-ready LO signature for the B-2 fleet. The B-2 Crash Survivable Memory Unit (CSMU) provides a more capable Flight Data Recorder (FDR) with increased capacity for storing Flight Information Data (FID) for recovery and use in the event of a mishap. The Radar Aided Targeting System (RATS) is planned to be a software only solution implemented in several B-2 system level Operational Flight Programs (OFPs) to provide radar-aided enhanced targeting capability through weapon hand-off navigational updates for guided nuclear weapons in a non-GPS environment. The B-2 Identification, Friend or Foe (IFF) Mode 5/S and Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) modification will fulfill the requirements of the FAA's Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) air traffic modernization mandate and the DoD mandate for secure combat identification. The B-2 Training System upgrades include updates to training device hardware and components, simulation software, courseware and academic materials, instructional system design architectures, engineering drawings, and system documentation that is not driven by a funded aircraft modification. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver B-2 weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0605826F, 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605830F, 0605831F, 0605832F, and 0605898F. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development. This budget activity includes developmental efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2019
• Source ID: 0101127F_7_3600_PB_2019
• Change Summary Explanation: FY2017: Congress reduced AEHF SATCOM by -$25M, -$4.479M for SBIR, and $0.006M reprogrammed. FY2019: AEHF SATCOM terminated in FY19 budget, reducing by -$209.290M in FY 2019 budget.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms
• Counter WMD
• Engineered Resilient Systems
• Space
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Air Force
• Air Traffic
• Air Transportation
• Aircrafts
• Area Denial
• Artificial Satellites
• Bandwidth
• Communication Systems
• Department Of Defense
• Flight Recorders
• Radio Frequency
• Standoff Missiles
• Test And Evaluation
• Test Equipment
• Very Low Frequency
• Warfare

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

• Space