B-2 Stealth Bomber Receives Significant Upgrade with SR1

US Air Force’s B-2 Spirit stealth bomber marks its 35th anniversary since its first flight, it’s receiving a significant capability upgrade known as Spirit Realm 1 (SR 1). This enhancement is designed to ensure that the B-2 remains a critical component of America’s nuclear deterrent triad and continues to perform long-range conventional strike missions effectively.

The upgrade is particularly crucial as it will bridge the gap until the B-2 is eventually replaced by the next-generation B-21 Raider, expected sometime in the late 2020s or early 2030s.

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Developed by Northrop Grumman in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force, Spirit Realm 1 introduces an open mission systems architecture to the B-2. This new architecture is described as the bomber’s “first fieldable, agile integrated functional capability.” The operational status of the program remains unclear, including the number of aircraft that have been upgraded so far.

The core of the SR 1 upgrade is its ability to allow new capabilities to be introduced through phased software releases. This flexibility extends to improvements in communications and weapons systems, with the potential to enhance other areas such as sensors. Northrop Grumman has also indicated that the upgrade “enhances the B-2’s survivability,” although specific details of these enhancements have not been disclosed.

In addition to the new open mission systems architecture, SR 1 equips the B-2 with new cockpit displays. These upgrades are expected to significantly improve the aircraft’s operational effectiveness and adaptability to new mission requirements.

The development of SR 1 took place entirely within the B-2 Spirit Realm “software factory,” a facility established by Air Force Global Strike Command and the B-2 Systems Program Office in December 2022. This software factory utilizes integrated digital tools to design, manage, build, test, and field B-2 software more rapidly, while also ensuring compatibility with legacy systems.

While not explicitly mentioned in the context of SR 1, there is potential for changes to the B-2’s sensor suite. Previous upgrade efforts, such as the Defensive Management System Modernization program (DMS-M), focused on improving electronic warfare capabilities and enhancing data sharing with sensors on offboard platforms. These upgrades aimed to improve the B-2’s ability to detect, locate, and categorize hostile defensive nodes, including air defense radars.

The SR 1 upgrade opens the door for the integration of new weapons systems. One likely candidate is the Air Force’s new GBU-72/B bunker-buster bomb, a 5,000-pound-class weapon that combines the BLU-138/B bomb with a Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) family GPS-assisted guidance kit. There’s also speculation about the potential integration of hypersonic missiles, although specific details remain undisclosed.

It’s worth noting that the future AGM-181A Long Range Stand-Off (LRSO), a nuclear-armed air-launched cruise missile, is not scheduled for integration with the B-2 before its retirement.

The B-2 fleet has faced challenges in recent years. Following an incident at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri in December 2022, the Air Force decided not to repair the damaged aircraft due to the costs and complexities involved. This decision has reduced the operational B-2 fleet to just 19 aircraft. The small size of the fleet, combined with its high operational and maintenance costs, underscores the importance of upgrades like SR 1 in keeping the remaining aircraft operationally relevant and effective.

The switch to an open mission systems architecture is particularly significant given the B-2’s age and complexity. This change should make it considerably easier to integrate new capabilities into an aircraft with avionics dating back to the mid-1980s. The ability to rapidly insert new software updates may well herald further improvements in the future.

As the B-2 enters its 35th year of service, the Spirit Realm 1 upgrade represents a crucial step in maintaining its operational relevance. By enhancing its communications, weapons systems, and overall adaptability, the U.S. Air Force is ensuring that the B-2 Spirit will continue to play a vital role in America’s strategic forces until its eventual replacement by the B-21 Raider. The success of this upgrade program will be critical in maintaining the B-2’s capabilities in an ever-evolving threat environment.

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