NEW SYSTEM IMPROVES B-2 COMMUNICATION.

Byline: - Daily News

PALMDALE - Northrop Grumman reports that a test showed that a new communications link for the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber will improve pilots' ability to exchange targeting and threat information.

Link-16 is a digital data transmission system that broadcasts information at a high rate and is a standard used by the U.S. Department of Defense on secure networks. Testing showed that a B-2 equipped with the link will be able to exchange information with a variety of aircraft, ships, ground vehicles and other platforms similarly equipped with Link-16, the company has said.

``Link-16 represents another in a series of upgrades undertaken by Northrop Grumman and the Air Force that will enhance the B-2's performance in the network-centric battle environment,'' said Gene Fraser, vice president and B-2 program manager at Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector. ``It will provide a tremendous advantage to B-2 pilots by giving them greater awareness of the battle space.''

The test, conducted Aug. 1-5 in Northrop Grumman's B-2 systems-engineering laboratory in Palmdale, used a variety of C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) data representing Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Army operating environments. The lab was connected on a virtual test network linked through the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, to the 82nd Communications Support Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va., and the Joint Interoperability Test Command at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.

Following certification, the system will be tested on B-2 operational aircraft later this year. Link-16 was successfully demonstrated on a test aircraft in 2004. As the B-2 prime contractor, Northrop Grumman is responsible for integrating the capability in the aircraft.

Northrop Grumman said it and the Air Force are working on other communications, radar and weapons modifications for the B-2.