Air Force awards Lockheed $1 billion for new ICBM reentry vehicle

Air Force awards Lockheed $1 billion for new ICBM reentry vehicle
Air Force awards Lockheed $1 billion for new ICBM reentry vehicle

The new Mk21A reentry vehicle will be mounted atop the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile and will carry an updated nuclear warhead known as the W87-1.

With new radar and engines in sight, the B-52 gets ready for ‘largest modification in its history’

With new radar and engines in sight, the B-52 gets ready for ‘largest modification in its history’
With new radar and engines in sight, the B-52 gets ready for ‘largest modification in its history’

“There’s a lot that can go wrong on the program management side,” Col. Louis Ruscetta, senior materiel leader of the B-52 division, said of the bomber’s upcoming modernization. “We have to try to manage and reduce what can go wrong.”

Rolls-Royce Wins $2.6bn B-52 Engine Contract

Rolls-Royce Wins $2.6bn B-52 Engine Contract
Rolls-Royce Wins $2.6bn B-52 Engine Contract

Rolls-Royce beat out General Electric and Pratt & Whitney, the latter of whom produced the TF33 engines currently used on the B-52.

Air Force Expects To Award B-52 Engine Contract This Month

Air Force Expects To Award B-52 Engine Contract This Month
Air Force Expects To Award B-52 Engine Contract This Month

A contract for one of three companies is “imminent,” per top Air Force officials.

presented by
The B-21 Raider: A Bomber That Is Both Low Observable And Easier to Maintain

The B-21 Raider: A Bomber That Is Both Low Observable And Easier to Maintain
The B-21 Raider: A Bomber That Is Both Low Observable And Easier to Maintain

Supportability issues that affected the availability and performance of early, stealthy aircraft are being addressed by Northrop Grumman on this new program.

presented by
DevStar for B-21 Design, Build, Sustainment

DevStar for B-21 Design, Build, Sustainment
DevStar for B-21 Design, Build, Sustainment

Advanced software development techniques are reducing risk and will enable the Air Force and Northrop Grumman to more efficiently integrate weapons on future aircraft, like the B-21.

Cold War Era To Modern Mission Success: Digital Engineering Transforms The B-52

Cold War Era To Modern Mission Success: Digital Engineering Transforms The B-52
Cold War Era To Modern Mission Success: Digital Engineering Transforms The B-52

Rolls-Royce, GE Aviation, and Pratt & Whitney have invested hundreds of thousands of hours of digital engineering on the podded mount for the digital engines to virtually attach to the bomber’s wing, as well as on other tests such as understanding airflow properties of the aircraft.
Underwritten by Rolls-Roycewidth

presented by
Air Force DevStar: Agile Software Development And Innovation For The B-21 Bomber

Air Force DevStar: Agile Software Development And Innovation For The B-21 Bomber
Air Force DevStar: Agile Software Development And Innovation For The B-21 Bomber

Northrop Grumman is employing this new derivative of DevOps to ensure that the B-21’s mission-critical functions are baked in long before the bomber’s first flight.

presented by Rolls-Royce
Applying Risk Reduction And Digital Engineering: The Air Force’s B-52 Re-Engining Program

Applying Risk Reduction And Digital Engineering: The Air Force’s B-52 Re-Engining Program
Applying Risk Reduction And Digital Engineering: The Air Force’s B-52 Re-Engining Program

With hundreds of thousands of hours of digital engineering work done, Rolls-Royce is well ahead of schedule for the F130 engine development.

presented by
The B-21 Raider: A Marvel Of Digital Development

The B-21 Raider: A Marvel Of Digital Development
The B-21 Raider: A Marvel Of Digital Development

Risk reduction is vital in the development of this new Air Force bomber. Northrop Grumman is driving risk out of the program with digital capabilities throughout design, build, prototype, and test.

B-21 A Good News Story; DoD Acquisition ‘Getting Better:’ HASC Chair

B-21 A Good News Story; DoD Acquisition ‘Getting Better:’ HASC Chair
B-21 A Good News Story; DoD Acquisition ‘Getting Better:’ HASC Chair

Rep. Adam Smith, who’s excoriated the F-35, said the B-21 bomber is “on time, on budget, and they’re making it work in a very intelligent way.” 

STRATCOM Head Tells Hill He’s ‘Confident’ In NC3 Cybersecurity

STRATCOM Head Tells Hill He’s ‘Confident’ In NC3 Cybersecurity
STRATCOM Head Tells Hill He’s ‘Confident’ In NC3 Cybersecurity

“If you try to life-extend a weapon system that was built before the invention of the Internet, and then turn around and ask me why it’s not cyber-secure — I don’t know how,” Adm. Charles Richard told SASC today.

Bye-Bye, B-52s & Carriers; Hello, More Destroyers & F-35s

Bye-Bye, B-52s & Carriers; Hello, More Destroyers & F-35s
Bye-Bye, B-52s & Carriers; Hello, More Destroyers & F-35s

The US needs to shift investment from hallowed but vulnerable legacy platforms – especially aircraft carriers and B-52 bombers – to more flexible and survivable weapons systems – above all, Aegis warships and the unfairly much-maligned F-35.

Hypersonics: ARRW’s Booster Tests This Week – Carefully

Hypersonics: ARRW’s Booster Tests This Week – Carefully
Hypersonics: ARRW’s Booster Tests This Week – Carefully

As the services rush to field hypersonics, OSD’s top expert warns, they must not repeat sloppy mistakes that have marred past tests – and hypersonic cruise missiles may have more tactical value than easier-to-build boost-glide weapons.