Northrop Grumman Begins Production Of Smart Bomb Racks For B-2

SPACEWAR

The B2 bomber costs about as much as a space shuttle to build, and has suppliers and contractors in as many states

El Segundo - May 09, 2003
Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Systems sector will begin production of a "smart bomb rack assembly" for the B-2 stealth bomber that will significantly enhance the aircraft's ability to deliver "smart" weapons.

The new assembly will allow the B-2 to carry as many as 80 independently targeted, GPS-guided weapons, compared with its current capacity of 16.

Northrop Grumman will perform the production work under a three-phase modification to an existing B-2 contract with the U.S. Air Force. The first phase, worth $9.2 million, is scheduled to run through August 2004. Total value of the work, scheduled to run through the first quarter of 2006, is $31.7 million.

Northrop Grumman will convert a total of 45 existing B-2 bomb rack assemblies to the new configuration (nine were previously converted during the development phase of the program).

The company's B-2 work is performed in Palmdale, Calif., and at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., the operational home of the B-2. The Boeing Company is a major subcontractor to Northrop Grumman on the smart bomb rack program.

The GBU-38, a 500-lb. Joint Direct Attack Munition produced by Boeing, will be the first weapon to be used with the new bomb rack assembly.

DRAGON SPACE

China Begins Stealth Fighter Project: Report

London (AFP) Dec 10, 2002
China is developing a "heavyweight" fighter aircraft with stealth characteristics, the current issue of Jane's Defence Weekly reported Tuesday, citing a senior Chinese aviation source.

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