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The B-2A Spirit: Kosovo and Beyond

NORTHROP GRUMMAN

Analysis Center

Northrop Grumman Analysis Center, (703) 875-0001/0055, barry_watts@mail.northgrum.com16 Feb 2000

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Kosovo & BeyondNORTHROP GRUMMAN

Analysis Center

• A “User’s Assessment” of the B-2 in Operation Allied Force:“. . . the B-2 was a star performer. The B-2 with Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) was our only manned aircraft that could strike targets with precision in any weather . . . Furthermore, the B-2 and JDAM demonstrated their impressive flexibility when we devised a procedure to retarget them in flight.”

— General John Jumper, 26 October 1999

• With improvements, the B-2 can become far more capablethan it was in Allied Force:

Link 16, Center Instrument Display, In-Flight Mission Re-Planning, etc.

4,700-lb EGBU-28, Smart Bomb Racks for 500-lb JDAMs, Brilliant Anti-Tank (BAT) for moving vehicles, 30,000-lb Big BLU for very deep targets, etc.

Dynamic Mission Re-Planning as well as Low Observability (LO) Signature & Maintainability Upgrades

Connectivity:Connectivity:Connectivity:

Lethality: Lethality: Lethality:

Survivability:Survivability:Survivability:

16 Feb 2000

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• Initial combat employment of the B-2A• 49 sorties launched from Whiteman AFB, 45 dropped

• Training enabled pilots to cope with 28-32 hour missions

• Only the B-2 employed GPS-aided, inertially guided, through-weather JDAMs

• Delivered an average of 14.6 weapons/sortie, including four 4,700-lb GBU-37s• Over 80% of B-2 targets were hit on the first pass

• The B-2’s GPS-Aided Targeting System (GATS) used the radar to achieve circular-error probables (CEPs) less than 1/2th those of unaided JDAM

• GATS also allowed through-weather, precision attacks onimprecisely located targets

• I.e, target-area “cursor adjustments” for inaccurate coordinates or air defense targets which had moved within the target area

• However, B-2 in-flight replanning/retargeting was limited

The B-2 in Allied ForceNORTHROP GRUMMAN

Analysis Center

16 Feb 2000

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GPS-Aided TargetingGPS-Aided Targeting• Adverse

Weather

• Launchand Leave

• SeekerlessPrecision

• Adverse Weather

• Launchand Leave

• SeekerlessPrecision

B-2 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)B-2 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

Global-PositioningSystem (GPS)

Satellites

Global-PositioningSystem (GPS)

Satellites

2000-lb JDAM2000-lb JDAM

17 July 1999

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Enable GATSMode & Com-mand Imaging

Select GPS Constellation

UpdatesWeapon(s)

Select AutomaticDelivery Mode

Compute SecondUpdate Parameters

Weapons Use GPS

1

WeaponsRelease

2 3

7

GPS-AidedTargeting System (GATS)

GPS-AidedTargeting System (GATS)

4

5

6

8

Automated Functions

Crew Functions

Designate Aim Points

Execute Second Update

2 Radar Looks Eliminate Target-Location Error2 Radar Looks Eliminate Target-Location Error17 July 1999

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A B-2 Functional Effect

JDAM ImpactJDAM Impact JDAM ImpactJDAM Impact

JDAM ImpactJDAM ImpactJDAM ImpactJDAM Impact JDAM ImpactJDAM Impact

JDAM ImpactJDAM Impact

NORTHROP GRUMMAN

Analysis Center

17 July 199916 Feb 2000

“…estimated by battle damage assessment, B-2s damaged or destroyed a higher percentage of their targets than any other aircraft participating in combat operations.”

— DOT&E Report

Post-strike Obvra Base, Serbia,following 17 April 1999 B-2 StrikePost-strike Obvra Base, Serbia,

following 17 April 1999 B-2 Strike

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Took on the Toughest TargetsPre-StrikePre-Strike

Novi Sad Railroad & Highway Bridge Over Danube, SerbiaNovi Sad Railroad & Highway Bridge Over Danube, Serbia

Post-Strike8 JDAMs from 1 B-2

Post-Strike8 JDAMs from 1 B-2

“...the B-2 did a magnificent job.…[I]n adverse weather…it was an absolutely critical ingredient of success.”

— General Wesley Clark*

* Testimony, Senate Armed Services Committee, 1 July 1999

NORTHROP GRUMMAN

Analysis Center

17 July 1999

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Post-StrikePost-Strike

KRIVOVO SUPPORT BASE, SERBIA KRIVOVO SUPPORT BASE, SERBIA

DoD Briefing, 22 April 1999:MajGen Wald: This is the Krivovosupport base in Serbia . . . [I]f you look closely, there are 8 different holes on 8 different buildings. That was one B-2 that did that . . .Question: Did you say one B-2 today with the smart bombs can do the damage of 1,500 B-17s in World War II? . . .MajGen Wald: I would say they [B-2s] could probably do more than the damage of 1,500 [B-17s] because of the precision and the ability to target the right thing.

NORTHROP GRUMMAN

Analysis CenterMultiple Aim-Points per Pass

17 July 1999

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In Kosovo, Gen. Jumper Wanted “Flex Targeting”

Joint STARSJoint STARS

PredatorPredatorUAVUAV

CAOCCAOC(Combined(CombinedAir Air OpnsOpnsCenter)Center)

FF--16 Shooters16 Shooters

Mobile TargetMobile Target

ComSatComSatComSat

“. . . we need equipment that will provide real-time imagery and target location directly to our fighter and bomber crews….To make airpower as effective as possible against mobile targets, we must have complete integration between all available air and space sensors at our nation’s disposal . . . . Ultimately, our goal is to reduce the time from target identification to target destruction from hours and days to minutes.”

— Gen. John Jumper26 Oct 1999

16 Feb 2000

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First Steps for FY01 NORTHROP GRUMMAN

Analysis Center

Connectivity & SurvivabilityConnectivity & SurvivabilityConnectivity & Survivability

• Link 16 / Center Instrument Display—secure link for real-time data on threats, friendly forces, & targets

• In-Flight Re-Planning—dynamic flight-path (“blue line”) and target/aim-point re-planning; stealth = low observables (LO) + tactics

• EHF Preliminary Design and Risk Reduction Study—LO antennas for broadband “pipe” (including target imagery)

• Smart Bomb Rack Assembly with 500 lb. JDAM (EMD)—5 times as many precision weapons / sortie

• EGBU-28—replaces GBU-37 with “standard” USAF penetrator

LethalityLethalityLethality

16 Feb 2000

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Back-up Slides

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Future of the US Bomber Force

B-52H

B-2A

Follow-onLong-Range

StrikePlatform

020406080

100120140160180200

2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

Follow-on Long-Range Platform• IOC: 2037• Production: 2034• New Acquisition Program: 2019• Concept Exploration: 2016• Mission Needs Statement: 2014• Mission Area Assessment: 2013

2037Minimum inventory (170) for

130 combat-coded bombers B-1B

USAF Bomber“Roadmap”

March 1999

“We think the balance of bomber, ISR support aircraft, and fighter aircraft with our lift and tanker capability, ratio-wise, is about right. . . . with our budget we think we've got it about right at this point.”

— LtGen Marv Esmond, USAF*

* Testimony, Military Procurement Subcommittee, House Armed Services Committee, 30 June 1999

US Fixed-WingModernization

$0 B$1 B$2 B$3 B$4 B$5 B$6 B$7 B$8 B$9 B

$10 B$11 B$12 B$13 B

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

F-22

F/A-18E/F

Navy JSF

USAF JSF

Bombers

F-14, AV-8BF/A-18C/DF/A-18E/FNavy JSFUSAF JSFF-22F16, F117, A10F-15EBombers

NORTHROP GRUMMAN

Analysis Center