The Future of Arlington 36 | The Case for 5th-Gen Airpower 41 | How Boeing Won T-X 27 THE BIG 30B-2 Spirit reaches a critical milestone. 31 July/August 2019 $8 Published by the Air Force Association STAFF Publisher Bruce A. Wright July / August 2019. Vol. 102, No. 6 Editor in Chief Tobias Naegele Managing Editor Juliette Kelsey Chagnon Editorial Director John A. Tirpak News Editor Photo: Mike Tsukamoto/sta Tsukamoto/sta Mike Photo: Amy McCullough Assistant DEPARTMENTS FEATURES The Air Force Managing Editor 2 Editorial: Memorial may Chequita Wood 12 Q&A: Specialty O icers Needed become part of Game Senior Designer Changers An exclusive interview with Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, deputy Arlington Na- tional Cemetery. Dashton Parham By Tobias chief of sta for manpower, personnel, and services. See p. 36. Pentagon Editor Naegele 27 How Boeing Won the T-X Brian W. Everstine 3 Letters Digital Platforms By John A. Tirpak 4 Index to Editor Advertisers Aggressive technology, schedule, and pricing made the Jennifer-Leigh difference. Oprihory 6 Airframes Senior Editor 14 Strategy & 31 The B-2 at 30: Improving with Age Rachel S. Cohen Policy: Shake- By Tobias Naegele, Dashton Parham, and Mike Tsukamoto Production ups at the Manager Pentagon leave Whiteman AFB, Mo., to Libya is 10,000 miles round trip. In 2016, two B-2s flew this overwater route, eliminating the need for overflight permissions. Eric Chang Lee DOD with space B-2 at 30: Improving with Age Whiteman AFB Primary Function Prime Contractor Operator Performance Libya The Air Force’s B-2 Spirit is the only stealth Northrop Grumman AFGSC, AFMC, ANG (associate) bomber in the world, an unprecedented Photo Editor Maximum speed Cruise speed Range disarray and combination of long-range, heavy payload, and Number Built 21 Engines stealth on a single platform. 4 Mach 0.8 Mach 0.77 6,000 Inventory General Electric F118-GE-100 turbofans, (550 knots, 630 mph, (487 knots, 560 mph, nautical miles (10,000 Aircraft Design 20 each 17,300 lb. thrust 1,010 kilometers per 900 km/h) at 40,000 with one refueling); hour) at 40,000 feet feet altitude Service ceiling: 50,000 Its low-observable flying wing design com- Accomodation Delivered altitude feet (15,200 meters) bines stealth with aerodynamic e iciency, and Mike Tsukamoto December 1993-December 1997. (Test-aircraft The 21 Spirits Army-centric includes two spacious weapons bays capable redelivered combat capable, July 2000) Maneuvering of carrying Northrop-Grumman built 21 B-2s, each Four pairs of control surfaces. named for a state (listed in order of its 60,000 lbs. IOC One split drag manufacture): April 1997, Whiteman AFB, Mo. Two pilots, on ACES II zero/zero ejection seats. rudder on each Two elevons 1. Spirit of America (82-1066) First Flight outer wing on inner wing. 2. Spirit of Arizona (82-1067) July 17, 1989. Active Variant Ceiling The leading edges of 3. Spirit of New York (82-1068) leadership. B-2A. Max takeo the wings are angled This star logo featuring five 4. Spirit of Indiana (82-1069) Weight 50,000 ft. One elevon at 33 degrees and the 5. Spirit of Ohio (82-1070) B-2 silhouettes was used at Aircraft Location on outer wing. trailing edge has a the plane’s rollout in 1989. 6. Spirit of Mississippi (82-1071) Edwards AFB, Calif.; Whiteman AFB, Mo. 336,500 lb. double-W shape. 7. Spirit of Texas (88-0328) 8. Spirit of Missouri (88-0329) Radar Cross Section 9. Spirit of California (88-0330) The radar cross section (RCS) is a key measure of strength. A target’s RCS depends on its physical shape, materials, 10. Spirit of South Carolina (88-0331) antennae, and other sensors. Onboard sensors can play as much of a role in determining RCS as materials and design. 11. Spirit of Washington (88-0332) Contributors 12. Spirit of Kansas (89-0127 - destroyed 16 World: Offutt in 2008) 13. Spirit of Nebraska (89-0128) 14. Spirit of Georgia (89-0129) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 15. Spirit of Alaska (90-0040) 0.001 m 0.01 m 0.003 m 0.005 m 0.75 m-0.05m 4m 100m 16. Spirit of Hawaii (90-0041) 17. Spirit of Florida (92-0700) John T. Correll, F-117 F-35 B-2 F-16 B-52 recovery; 18. Spirit of Oklahoma (93-1085) Green light 19. Spirit of Kitty Hawk (93-1086) indicator 20. Spirit of Pennsylvania (93-1087) 17 ft. 69 ft. 21. Spirit of Louisiana (93-1088) Red light McConnell indicator David A. Deptula, • B-2 carries more guided weapons than Strobe lights Recognition Esoterica any other platform (80x GBU-38) • 1.9 million lines of code Strobe lights flashing indicate Collier Award Recipient, May 1992 ― Air Force/Northrop Grumman-led • Only about 700 people have flown in a • Cot on board (with only two seats, pilots can flashing indicate clearance for take o . contractor team wins the Collier Trophy, aerospace’s most prestigious award B-2; everyone who has is assigned a stow a cot for resting during long flights) clearance for take o . for the design, development, production, and flight testing of the B-2 Spirit. unique “Spirit number” Robert S. Dud- KC-46s; AFRL 172 ft. Span Upgrades The original B-2s have benefited from significant enhancements since the planes were first introduced. Operation Operation Operation All aircraft today meet the Block 30 standard, featuring AESA radars and Link 16. Iraqi Freedom (2003) Odyssey Dawn (2011) Odyssey Lightning (2017) munition plans; 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 ney, Lawrence A. 1989: First Flight 1995: Adds GPS-Aided 1998: Gains ability 1999: Adds Generic Weapons 2006: Gains ability to use 2012: Adds fiber-optic, high-band- 2018/2019 (Plans): Continue development of Low-Observable Targeting (GATS) and to use JDAM Interface System (GWIS) – GBU-57 Massive Ordnance width data busses; improved threat Signature and Supportability Modifications; expand development GPS-Aided Munitions Operation can now carry four di erent Operation Penetrator (MOP) identification; improved response e orts for advanced LO materials, structures, and procedures (GAMS) Allied Force weapon types on the rotary Enduring Freedom times; improved geolocation accuracy including Advanced Signature Reduction; Next-Generation Zonal and more ... (1999) launcher (RLA) (2001) R a d a r ; u p g r a d e t o t h e T i e r O n e M a t e r i a l I n s p e c t i o n S y s t e m ( T O M I S ) Stutzreim, Heather .- Ongoing Upgrades Include: • Low Observable Signature and Supportability Modifications Potential future upgrades could include: • Integration of anti-ship weapons like the Long-Range Anti-Ship • Defensive Management System Modernization (DMSM) to improve (LOSSM) to improve the B-2’s stealth signature and reduce the • Ability to carry both smart bomb rack and rotary launcher to maxi- Missile, something the influential think tank CSBA has called for as survivability in contested environments, primarily by locating and amount of maintenance its stealth materials require. mize loadout flexibility. a means of countering the Chinese Navy. identifying enemy radars. • Radar-Aided Targeting System (RATS) that uses the B-2’s radar to • Airspeed and altitude hold autopilot functionality to reduce crew • Adaptable Communications Suite (ACS) providing beyond-line- provide precision weapon targeting in GPS-denied environments. fatigue. of-sight communications to enable time-sensitive mission updates • JASSM-ER integration to enable B-2s to carry 16 of the extend- • Integration of hypersonic weapons on a more survivable launch Penney and in-flight retasking. ed-range variant of the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Stando platform. 26 Faces of the Missile (JASSM). Tsukamoto; and Mike Parham by Dashton Graphic Photos: USAF Force JULY/AUGUST AIRFORCEMAG.COM JULY/AUGUST AIRFORCEMAG.COM 35 Verbatim 36 Arlington’s Southern Expansion 61 Airman for Life By Brian W. Everstine CAP cadets visit With space running out, Arlington spreads out to surround Virginia Science the US Air Force Memorial —and to limit who can be buried Museum; Cheesecon; and on its hallowed grounds. ADVERTISING: Kirk Brown more ... ON THE COVER 41 Fast-Forward with 5G Director, Media 64 Namesakes: Solutions Scott By Rachel S. Cohen The next generation of wireless networks is coming. 703.247.5829 [email protected] 46 The Case for Fifth-Generation and NGAD Airpower SUBSCRIBE Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, Maj. Gen. Lawrence A. & SAVE Stutzreim, and Heather Penney Subscribe to Air Force Magazine and save big o 52 The Counter-Revolution in Military Affairs Lee/sta Graphic: Eric the cover price, By John T. Correll An imagined B-2 elephant walk. plus get a free For the ground forces, the problem with a revolution in See “The B-2 at membership military affairs was airpower, not technology. 30,” p. 31. to the Air Force Association. 58 AFA Nominees 2019-2020, Candidates for National 1-800-727-3337 Office and Board of Directors Air Force Magazine (ISSN 0730-6784) July/August 2019 (Vol. 102, No. 6) is published monthly, except for two double issues in January/February and July/August, by the Air Force Association, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209-1198. Phone (703) 247-5800. Periodical postage paid at Arlington, Va., and additional mailing o ices. Membership Rate: $50 per year; $35 e-Membership; $125 for three-year membership. Subscription Rate: $50 per year; $29 per year additional for postage to foreign addresses (except Canada and Mexico, which are $10 per year additional). Regular issues $8 each. USAF Almanac issue $18 each. Change of address requires four weeks’ notice.