The Adaptable Communications Suite will enable the B-2A Spirit to function effectively inside the Mixed Joint All-Area Command and Management setting.
Sierra Nevada Company (SNC) has introduced {that a} B-2A Spirit stealth bomber of the U.S. Air Drive has flown for the primary time with the Adaptable Communications Suite (ACS) 4.0. The milestone is a part of the continuing modernization of the platform, meant to make sure the B-2 is able to meet evolving mission necessities.
The event follows the announcement final 12 months of recent communication and survivability upgrades. On the time, the service talked about an upgraded beyond-line-of-sight satellite tv for pc communications functionality, with out explicitly mentioning the brand new model of ACS.
ACS 4.0
SNC developed and built-in the brand new ACS on the B-2 in partnership with Northrop Grumman, which initially manufactured the bomber. The ACS 4.0 improve, based on the press launch by SNC, is supposed to equip the bomber with cutting-edge know-how to function effectively inside the Mixed Joint All-Area Command and Management (CJADC2) setting.
The ACS is a functionality which was already current on the B-2, which gives a safe, open mission system computing setting for interoperability with different army methods. The most recent model now gives enhanced flexibility and seamless integration with a variety of mission methods, in addition to simple adaptation for future upgrades.
“This primary flight of the B-2 with the upgraded Adaptable Communications Suite is a testomony to SNC’s dedication to advancing aerospace know-how and supporting the U.S. Air Drive’s strategic targets,” mentioned Jon Piatt, govt vice chairman at SNC. “Our collaboration with U.S. Air Drive has been instrumental in attaining this milestone, combining our strengths to ship a transformative improve for the B-2 fleet. The ACS improve ensures that the B-2 stays a formidable and versatile platform, able to working in complicated and contested environments.”
Ongoing Modernization
Because the U.S. Air Drive prepares for the introduction of the brand new B-21A Raider stealth bomber, work is constant to make sure the B-2 fleet stays operational and related for the foreseeable future. Due to this, the B-2 Superior Packages Department steadily gives new capabilities to maintain the B-2 forward of rising threats.
The service operates 19 B-2s, which can proceed to be the mainstay of the Air Drive’s long-range standard and non-conventional strategic strike mission at the least till the early-2030s, when it’s deliberate to get replaced. The aim is to maintain the stealth bomber “prepared, efficient, and survivable.”
Among the many most up-to-date introduced upgrades are new communication capabilities to considerably enhance the information switch time for actual time mission planning information. In line with the service, this enables to “concurrently obtain and transmit voice communications and information which is an improve from what the plane at the moment has.”
Different upgrades associated to the survivability are “low observable supplies to reinforce its radar cross part signature,” and “bettering the B-2’s situational consciousness in a extremely contested setting.” The latter is supposed to present crews the flexibility to adapt to the altering state of affairs and be simpler of their mission.
One other parallel improve effort for the B-2 Spirit fleet is the Spirit Realm 1 (SR1). This includes the combination of an open mission methods structure, new software program, sensors and weapons, to reinforce the B-2’s survivability and fight functionality.
Not a Legacy Platform
Though it first flew in 1989 and entered service in 1997, the B-2 Spirit remains to be the U.S. Air Drive’s go-to platform when a strike mission requires to penetrate extremely contested airspace. Some of the current examples was Operation Midnight Hammer in 2025, which noticed seven B-2s penetrating into Iranian airspace to strike two nuclear websites with 14 GBU-57 Large Ordnance Penetrator bombs.
“Lots of people speak in regards to the B-2 as a legacy platform and that’s incorrect: it’s an operational platform conducting strikes right this moment and if the flag goes up tomorrow, it is going to be one of many first platforms to conduct strikes,” says Lt Col Robert Allen, Materiel Chief for the B-2 Superior Packages Department. “That’s the reason it’s vital for this SPO to ship novel capabilities to make sure our operators can aviate, navigate, talk, strike their targets, and get house safely.”
All through the years, the B-2 Spirit was at all times among the many first belongings to enter enemy territory on the primary night time. Among the many opening nights during which the bomber performed a component are Operation Allied Drive, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Odyssey Daybreak.
Because of its vary and air-to-air refueling functionality, lots of the strike missions noticed the B-2 working from its house base at Whiteman Air Drive Base in Missouri. As an illustration, Operation Midnight Hammer noticed the B-2s flying continuous for 36 hours and greater than 13,000 miles through the spherical journey.
