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US Air Force, Northrop Grumman craft plan to increase B-2 operational availability

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B-2 Spirit of Ohio
B-2 Spirit of Ohio lifts off from U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale for one of its final pre-delivery flight tests. [contributed]
PALMDALE – The U.S. Air Force expects to increase the number of B-2 stealth bombers available for combat by one full jet and reduce fleet sustainment costs significantly under a new maintenance agreement worked out with B-2 prime contractor Northrop Grumman Corporation.

Under the contract modification signed in April, Northrop Grumman will give each B-2 a major, end-to-end overhaul – a process called programmed depot maintenance (PDM) – once every nine years at the company’s Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence in Palmdale.

Each jet currently undergoes PDM once every seven years.

“This new approach to B-2 maintenance is a win-win for the Air Force and the nation,” said Brig. Gen Eric Fick, Program Executive Officer for Fighters and Bombers within the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. “It will enhance the jet’s readiness to conduct global security missions, and is expected to save taxpayers about $900 million in maintenance costs over the life of the fleet.”

“The nine-year PDM cycle is part of an aggressive on-going effort by Northrop Grumman and the Air Force to increase bomber availability,” said Pat McMahon, sector vice president and general manager for military aircraft systems, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. “Our experienced work force has critically reviewed every PDM material and process for potential improvements. As a result, we’ve been able to reduce the length of the PDM process, and increase the time between PDM periods.”

Bolstered by the adoption of USAF best practices used by other Northrop Grumman programs, the new nine-year overhaul cycle will reduce the average length of B-2 PDM

to 365 days, down from more than 400 days in previous years. Under the new rhythm, Northrop Grumman will induct a B-2 into PDM approximately once every six months.

“Our delivery of the B-2 Spirit of Ohio back to the Air Force in August marked the last time we expect to have more than two jets in PDM at any one time,” said McMahon. “Fewer jets undergoing PDM in Palmdale will keep more B-2s ready to serve the nation’s security needs.”

The B-2 is the only long-range, large-payload U.S. military aircraft that can penetrate deeply into denied access enemy air space. It can fly 6,000 nautical miles unrefueled and more than 10,000 nautical miles with just one aerial refueling, giving it the ability to reach any point on the globe within hours and hold at risk an enemy’s most heavily defended targets.

The latest B-2 news and information from Northrop Grumman is available at http://www.northropgrumman.com/B-2.

[Information via news release from Northrop Grumman.]

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Filed Under: Palmdale

9 comments for "US Air Force, Northrop Grumman craft plan to increase B-2 operational availability"

  1. Saving $900 million? On an airplane that HAS NOT BEEN USED IN COMBAT EVER? When do we wake-up and realize that a long-range bomber is just another relic of the cold war that ended when the walls came down in 1989…. these aircraft have no operational use or purpose in today’s military…. GET RID OF THEM AND WE CAN SAVE BILLIONS$$$!!!!!

    • The B-2 stealth bombers was used during the Kosovo War and in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. The B-2 stealth bombers was used in the Iraq war and was also the first aircraft used in Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya.

      I wonder who told you the B-2 bombers have never been used in combat?

      Why don’t the Taliban play bingo?
      Because when they call B-2 everyone runs out of the building.

        • Missy “Secular Liberalism is undermining the country” is trying to get some traction by piggy-backing onto someone else’s comment.

          Missy “Ben Carson for president”.

          Her ‘lameness’ knows no bounds.

          • Any of the republican candidates for president will be just fine. The democrats can only offer a socialist, a liar and cheater and the last one hasn’t even decided to run. Our country can’t survive four more years of Obama’s policies with another liberal. We are in dire need for change to bring America back to what it needs to be.

    • What a deal! I cannot help but wonder what kind of help for those in need the money spent on just one of those would do. We do not need bombers with the laser guided and remotely piloted ordinance they have at their disposal.

    • I once heard a Marine who was issued a vest, without a plate, refer to it as “lightweight” armor. I heard another Marine describe missing shots as “providing suppressing fire.” If 13 years of service taught me anything, it’s that the military can find a silver lining to anything.

      • Thank you for your service in protecting the national interests and the liberties of our great USA, Eric.