Northrop to help upgrade B-2s

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PALMDALE, Calif., Feb. 15 (UPI) -- The second phase of a U.S. Air Force project to modernize the B-2 bomber's defensive management system will be performed by Northrop Grumman.

DMS is an electronic warfare system that includes various antennas and display processors. Its modernization will feature a new avionics graphics processor being developed by Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training and new antennas being developed by L3 Randtron and Ball Aerospace.

Northrop Grumman will integrate the new DMS hardware and software onto the aircraft.

"TD (Technical Development) Phase 2 is the cornerstone of a rapid acquisition initiative that Northrop Grumman and the government developed to reduce B-2 DMS modernization costs and accelerate the availability of the latest technologies for the aircraft," said Lauren Stevens, director of the company's B-2 DMS modernization integrated product team.

"Instead of relying on new hardware and software development, our initiative takes advantage of mature, proven technologies. It minimizes non-recurring costs and reduces the time and technology risks associated with fielding new capabilities."

Northrop said as part of the effort to reduce costs and fielding schedules, it accelerated forward into TD Phase 2 many engineering tasks normally conducted during the engineering, manufacturing and development phase.