Edwards Air Force Base marked a historic moment on July 17, 2024, with the return of the B-2 Spirit, 35 years after its inaugural flight from United States Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.
The aircraft, known as the Spirit of Pennsylvania, has returned to the base, an important site for aerospace testing in the USAF, to undergo significant technological upgrades. This phase includes integrating new technologies such as the Spirit Realm 1, an open mission systems architecture to improve the aircraft’s communications and weapons systems.
“This is the first time that we are going to do agile software development with Spirit Realm, so that is a big change for us,” said Major Stephen Henderson, Assistant Director of Operations with the 419th Flight Test Squadron, who piloted the B-2 back to Edwards. “We are projected to work on that heavily this fall.”
Testing will be conducted by a Combined Test Force, including the 419th Flight Test Squadron, the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), and Northrop Grumman.
The Spirit Realm 1 initiative will facilitate rapid software updates, ensuring the B-2 remains a relevant platform until it is eventually retired from service.
The B-2 Spirit, the first flying wing to enter operational service
The B-2 Spirit was the culmination of years of effort by Jack Northrop and his company Northrop Grumman to develop a flying wing for the USAF. In 1981, the company won the Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB) program.
Flying for the first time on July 17, 1989, the B-2 Spirit strategic bomber entered service in 1997 and remains one of the pillars of the United States nuclear deterrence to this day.
The USAF expects to retire the B-2 Spirit and B-1 Lancer strategic bombers in the early 2030s, gradually replacing the two fleets with 100 B-21 Raider aircraft. Production of the next-generation stealth bomber started in January 2024, and it is expected to enter active service by 2026.
