Editing Northrop B-2 Spirit (section)

===Further developments===
Several upgrade packages have been applied to the B-2. In July 2008, the B-2's onboard computing architecture was extensively redesigned; it now incorporates a new integrated [[Processor (computing)|processing unit]] that communicates with systems throughout the aircraft via a newly installed [[fiber optic]] network; a new version of the operational flight program software was also developed, with [[legacy code]] converted from the [[JOVIAL]] programming language to standard [[C (programming language)|C]].<ref>McKinney, Brooks. [http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=145810 "Air Force Completes Preliminary Design Review of New B-2 Bomber Computer Architecture."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521002050/http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=145810 |date=21 May 2010}} ''Northrop Grumman'', 7 July 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.semanticdesigns.com/Products/Services/NorthropGrummanB2.html "Semantic Designs Aligns with Northrop Grumman to Modernize B-2 Spirit Bomber Software Systems"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909005707/http://www.semanticdesigns.com/Products/Services/NorthropGrummanB2.html |date=9 September 2018}}. ''Semantic Designs''. Retrieved 8 June 2011.</ref> Updates were also made to the weapon control systems to enable strikes upon moving targets, such as ground vehicles.<ref>McKinney, Brooks. [http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/90827/b_2-upgrade-adds-mobile-target-engagement.html "Northrop Grumman Adding Mobile Targets to B-2 Bomber Capabilities."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812052653/http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/90827/b_2-upgrade-adds-mobile-target-engagement.html |date=12 August 2018}} ''Northrop Grumman'', 7 February 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2009.</ref>

[[File:B2 silhouette.JPG|thumb|B-2 from below]]
On 29 December 2008, USAF officials awarded a US$468&nbsp;million contract to Northrop Grumman to modernize the B-2 fleet's radars.<ref>[https://www.af.mil/News/story/id/123129776/ "B-2 radar modernization program contract awarded."] ''US Air Force'', 30 December 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2009.</ref> Changing the radar's frequency was required as the [[United States Department of Commerce]] had sold that radio spectrum to another operator.<ref>Warwick, Graham. [http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/UPGR12308.xml&headline=USAF%20Awards%20B-2%20Radar%20Upgrade%20Production&channel=defense "USAF Awards B-2 Radar Upgrade Production."]{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} ''Aviation Week'', 30 December 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2009.</ref> In July 2009, it was reported that the B-2 had successfully passed a major USAF audit.<ref>Jennings, Gareth. [http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jdw/jdw090724_2_n.shtml "B-2 passes modernisation milestones."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731232154/http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jdw/jdw090724_2_n.shtml |date=31 July 2009}} ''Janes'', 24 July 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2009.</ref> In 2010, it was made public that the [[Air Force Research Laboratory]] had developed a new material to be used on the part of the wing trailing edge subject to engine exhaust, replacing existing material that quickly degraded.<ref>[http://defense-update.com/wp/20101119_b2_hte.html "New Composite to Improve B-2 Durability."] ''Defense-Update'', 19 November 2010. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128213955/http://defense-update.com/wp/20101119_b2_hte.html |date=28 November 2010}}</ref>

In July 2010, political analyst Rebecca Grant speculated that when the B-2 becomes unable to reliably penetrate enemy defenses, the [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II]] may take on its strike/[[Air interdiction|interdiction]] mission, carrying [[B61 nuclear bomb]]s as a tactical bomber.<ref>Grant, Rebecca. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20101207023456/http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2010/July%202010/0710nato.aspx "Nukes for NATO."]}} ''Air Force Magazine'', July 2010.</ref> However, in March 2012, [[The Pentagon]] announced that a $2&nbsp;billion, 10-year-long modernization of the B-2 fleet was to begin. The main area of improvement would be replacement of outdated avionics and equipment.<ref name="kelley insider">Kelley, Michael. [http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-03-28/news/31247799_1_b-2s-whiteman-air-force-base-stealth-bombers "The Air Force Announced It's Upgrading The One Plane It Needs To Bomb Iran."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212050635/http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-03-28/news/31247799_1_b-2s-whiteman-air-force-base-stealth-bombers |date=12 December 2012}} ''Business Insider'', 28 March 2012.</ref> Continued modernization efforts likely have continued in secret, as alluded to by a B-2 commander from [[Whiteman Air Force Base]] in April 2021, possibly indicating offensive weapons capability against threatening air defenses and aircraft. He stated: {{blockquote |text=without getting into specifics, and without getting into things that we frankly just don't discuss in open channels, I will tell you that our current bomber fleet, and this is all of them, we use some pretty innovative ways to integrate modern weapons capabilities to have us both maintain and increase our survivability. And for the B-2 specifically, the expansion of some of our strike capabilities allow us to increase our survivability beyond the fighter escort realm. Now the B-2 fleet is continuing to do that technological advancement, and that's enabled us to expand our strike capabilities, as well. Although we've been around for over 30 years, there's a lot of life left in this platform, and up until the B-21 is well on the scene and doing its job, this aircraft will continue to be at the forefront of our country and our nation's defense... and with these, and continued innovative upgrades, and weapons system capabilities, we will continue to do that until the last jet flies off the ramp into retirement.<ref>Mitchell Institute Aerospace Advantage Podcast [https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/episode-18-flying-and-fighting-in-the-b-2-americas-stealth-bomber/ "Flying and Fighting in the B-2: America’s Stealth Bomber"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804180843/https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/episode-18-flying-and-fighting-in-the-b-2-americas-stealth-bomber/ |date=4 August 2021}} ''Mitchell Institute'', 11 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.</ref>}}

It was reported in 2011 that The Pentagon was evaluating an unmanned stealth bomber, characterized as a "mini-B-2", as a potential replacement in the near future.<ref>[http://www.uasvision.com/2011/05/24/pentagon-wants-unmanned-stealth-bomber-to-replace-b-2/ "Pentagon Wants Unmanned Stealth Bomber to Replace B-2."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114162040/http://www.uasvision.com/2011/05/24/pentagon-wants-unmanned-stealth-bomber-to-replace-b-2/ |date=14 January 2012}} ''Los Angeles Times'' via ''uasvision.com'', 24 March 2011.</ref> In 2012, USAF Chief of Staff General [[Norton Schwartz]] stated the B-2's 1980s-era stealth technologies would make it less survivable in future contested airspaces, so the USAF is to proceed with the [[Next-Generation Bomber]] despite overall budget cuts.<ref>Schogol, Jeff. [https://archive.today/20130121151525/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120229/DEFREG02/302290005/Schwartz-Defends-Cost-USAF-8217-s-Next-Gen-Bomber?odyssey=tab |topnews|text|FRONTPAGE "Schwartz Defends Cost of USAF's Next-Gen Bomber"] . ''Defense News''. 29 February 2012.</ref> In 2012 projections, it was estimated that the Next-Generation Bomber would have an overall cost of $55&nbsp;billion.<ref>Less, Eloise. [http://www.businessinsider.com/next-generation-b2-bomber-2012-3 "Questions about whether the US needs another $55 billion worth of bombers."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212053548/http://www.businessinsider.com/next-generation-b2-bomber-2012-3 |date=12 December 2012}} ''Business Insider'', 27 March 2012.</ref>

In 2013, the USAF contracted for the Defensive Management System Modernization (DMS-M) program to replace the antenna system and other electronics to increase the B-2's frequency awareness.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afgsc.af.mil/News/story/id/123356798/|title=Bolstering Spirits in the Year of the B-2|work=af.mil|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101052224/http://www.afgsc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123356798|archive-date=1 November 2013}}</ref> The Common Very Low Frequency Receiver upgrade allows the B-2s to use the same [[very low frequency]] transmissions as the [[Ohio-class submarine|''Ohio''-class submarine]]s so as to continue in the nuclear mission until the [[Mobile User Objective System]] is fielded.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}} In 2014, the USAF outlined a series of upgrades including nuclear warfighting, a new integrated processing unit, the ability to carry cruise missiles, and threat warning improvements.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/06/25/b-2-bomber-set-to-receive-massive-upgrade/ |title=B-2 Bomber Set to Receive Massive Upgrade |last1=Osborn |first1=Kris |date=25 June 2014 |website=dodbuzz.com |publisher=Monster |access-date=25 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223212937/https://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/06/25/b-2-bomber-set-to-receive-massive-upgrade/ |archive-date=23 February 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Due to ongoing software challenges, DMS-M was canceled by 2020, and the existing work was repurposed for cockpit upgrades.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wolfe |first=Frank |url=https://www.defensedaily.com/air-force-looks-increase-b-2-mission-readiness-cockpit-display-upgrade/air-force/ |title= Air Force Looks to Increase B-2 Mission Readiness with Cockpit Display Upgrade |work=Defense Industry Daily |date=23 October 2020}}</ref>

In 1998, a Congressional panel advised the USAF to refocus resources away from continued B-2 production and instead begin development of a new bomber, either a new build or a variant of the B-2. In its 1999 bomber roadmap the USAF eschewed the panel's recommendations, believing its current bomber fleet could be maintained until the 2030s. The service believed that development could begin in 2013, in time to replace aging B-2s, B-1s and B-52s around 2037.<ref>Tirpak, John A. [http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/1999/June%201999/0699bomber.aspx "The Bomber Roadmap"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229023812/http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/1999/June%201999/0699bomber.aspx |date=29 February 2016}}. Air Force Magazine, June 1999. Retrieved 30 December 2015 ([http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Documents/1999/June%201999/0699bomber.pdf PDF version] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304141259/http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Documents/1999/June%201999/0699bomber.pdf |date=4 March 2016}})</ref><ref>Grant, Rebecca. [https://web.archive.org/web/20141103010442/http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=ADA465958 "Return of the Bomber, The Future of Long-Range Strike"], pp. 11, 17, 29. Air Force Association, February 2007.</ref>

Although the USAF previously planned to operate the B-2 until 2058, the FY 2019 budget moved up its retirement to "no later than 2032". It also moved the retirement of the B-1 to 2036 while extending the B-52's service life into the 2050s, because the B-52 has lower maintenance costs, versatile conventional payload, and the ability to carry nuclear [[cruise missile]]s (which the B-1 is treaty-prohibited from doing). The decision to retire the B-2 early was made because the small fleet of 20 is considered too expensive per plane to retain, with its position as a stealth bomber being taken over with the introduction of the [[Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider|B-21 Raider]] starting in the mid-2020s.<ref name="airforcetimes11feb18"/>