Novel capabilities guarantee B-2 crews can ‘aviate, navigate, talk, strike their targets, and get residence safely’ with a bomber which ‘stays prepared, efficient, and survivable.’
The U.S. Air Drive Life-Cycle Administration Heart (AFLCMC) has revealed a collection of continuous software program upgrades to the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, notably pertaining to its communications and survivability. These are deliberate to “occur constantly to make sure the B-2 fleet stays operational till the B-21 is fielded.”
The upgrades are performed by the B-2 Superior Applications Department, as “quickly and ceaselessly offering modernization capabilities retains the B-2 forward of rising threats.” The work takes place on the AFLCMC’s Bombers Directorate’s in-house laboratory at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma.
The upgrades “could embrace acquisition packages that modify both {hardware} or software program,” defined the press launch. The perception into the road of improve comes after seven B-2s struck Iran’s nuclear services with GBU-57 MOP (Large Ordnance Penetrator) bombs on Jun. 21, 2025, in a rigorously orchestrated operation, known as ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’, that was 15 years within the making.
The B-2 Spirit, the mainstay of the Air Drive’s long-range standard and non-conventional airborne strategic strike roles, can be upgraded to stay “aggressive” at the very least till the early-2030s, when it’s deliberate to get replaced by the brand new B-21 Raider. The service operates 19 B-2s, placing them by means of a rigorous and exhaustive Programmed Depot Upkeep (PDM) each 9 years at Northrop Grumman’s Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.
The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is a recreation changer. It’s able to penetrating closely defended airspaces, delivering each standard and nuclear munitions worldwide. The Spirit is a testomony to our dedication to nationwide safety and international stability. pic.twitter.com/P0GWDOxPtA
— Division of Protection 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) June 4, 2025
Communications and survivability upgrades
New required capabilities are recognized by the B-2 Superior Applications Department by finding out rising threats, and are then undertaken by two Built-in Program Groups (IPT) groups, representing the 2 strains of efforts for the B-2: Superior Communications and Survivability. This system is overseen by the B-2 Methods Applications Workplace (SPO) inside the AFLCMC’s Bomber’s Directorate, which “ensures this strategic platform stays prepared, efficient, and survivable.”
The Superior Communications workforce works on offering new communication capabilities, the newest being an upgraded beyond-line-of-sight satellite tv for pc communications suite. Lt. Col. Robert Allen, Materiel Chief for the B-2 Superior Applications Department, mentioned within the launch this “considerably improves the switch time for actual time mission planning knowledge,” permitting to “concurrently obtain and transmit voice communications and knowledge which is an improve from what the plane at present has.”
The Survivability IPT focuses on bettering the B-2’s “low observable supplies to reinforce its radar cross part signature,” and “bettering the B-2’s situational consciousness in a extremely contested setting.” This supplies the crew with “the newest battlefield image, giving them the flexibility to adapt and be much more efficient and prepared for the combat,” explains the press launch.
“We’re making certain the plane’s programs sensors are functioning optimally to interact our targets successfully and precisely,” mentioned Col. Francis Marino, B-2 System program supervisor. “We’re sustaining readiness by decreasing downtime and rising plane availability.”
Technicians strip paint from a B-2 bomber utilizing excessive stress air and wheat starch. The whites buildings create an air wall that power the residues into the ground vents . AWST 1996 #aviation pic.twitter.com/R4J3OiqkgI
— The Shadow of the Eagle (@clemente3000) November 3, 2021
From the outline, we are able to assume the improve contains safer, encrypted radios, with software program outlined transmission and an up to date risk library of hostile radar and electromagnetic frequencies, primarily based on the newest intelligence. These “novel capabilities guarantee our operators can aviate, navigate, talk, strike their targets, and get residence safely,” Allen added.
Different B-2 upgrades
There are additionally parallel improve efforts for the B-2 Spirit fleet, the first certainly one of them being the Spirit Realm 1 (SR1). This includes the mixing of an open mission programs structure, new software program, sensors and weapons, to reinforce the B-2’s survivability and fight functionality.
Based on The Conflict Zone, the phased software program releases may additionally prolong to the B-2’s sensors, however it’s not identified what they precisely represent and what number of bombers have been put by means of this system to this point. It’s also due to this fact unclear if the SR1 and the newest software program and {hardware} talked about by AFLCMC are associated or a separate effort, and if these too need to be undertaken at Plant 42.
Amanda Seiler, the B-2 Built-in Operate Capabilities Department deputy program supervisor mentioned they’ve “wherever from two-to-three upgrades within the queue, occurring at any given time in numerous phases of coding, growth, testing and fielding,” referring to the work on the in-house laboratory. “One in all our packages incorporates over 300-plus software program modifications to its sustainment software program,” Seiler provides.
In the meantime, the PDMs contain the B-2s being put by means of an exhaustive inspection of all electrical and mechanical programs together with a whole elimination and reapplication of their radar-evading supplies to revive the LO (Low Observable) options.
B-2 persevering with relevance
The AFLCMC middle touched upon the long-lasting B-2’s historical past and its persevering with relevance for the USAF’s future missions, even when it was first designed within the late Seventies and early Eighties. “Designed through the peak of the Chilly Conflict, its objective was to penetrate closely defended enemy airspace, working independently to destroy vital strategic targets,” the AFLCMC assertion mentioned.
The bomber reached Preliminary Operational Functionality on Jan. 1, 1997, and had its fight debut within the Kosovo Conflict, supporting Operation Allied Drive.
The AFLCMC revealed how the B-2, regardless of accounting for lower than one p.c of the Division of Protection’s finances and conducting lower than 10 p.c of fight sorties, nonetheless “dropped 62 p.c” of the full munitions used. It isn’t identified what interval this determine corresponds to, and if it takes into consideration the latest strikes on Iran’s nuclear services.
The press launch concerning the improve efforts – an uncommon subject for a press launch by the U.S. Air Drive requirements – come inside days of such a serious operation. Allen additionally dispelled the notion concerning the B-2 being a mere “legacy platform” as “incorrect,” explaining that the B-2 “is an operational platform conducting strikes right this moment and if the flag goes up tomorrow, it will likely be one of many first platforms to conduct strikes.”
The B-2 Spirit’s “continued modernization and sustainment” is “essential for sustaining United States navy air superiority,” with its ”solely long-range penetrable strike bomber serving each nuclear and traditional missions is all the time prepared and stays a viable platform for many years to come back.”
.@USAirForce B-2 Spirit bombers just lately returned safely to Whiteman AFB, Mo., after a profitable 36-hour mission to the @CENTCOM space of accountability.#USSTRATCOM warfighters are dedicated to delivering #PeaceThroughStrength #AnytimeAnywhere.@DeptOfDefense | @AFGlobalStrike pic.twitter.com/6idyhmR2sw
— United States Strategic Command (@US_STRATCOM) June 23, 2025
“The B-2 is a strategic asset that gives the U.S. navy with distinctive functionality to penetrate closely defended airspace and ship precision guided munitions,” mentioned Lt. Col. Benjamin Elton, materials chief, B-2 Built-in Capabilities Department. “Upgrading its avionics, sensors and communication programs are important in order that we keep forward of rising threats and improve our payload and flexibility.”
