28 Jun 12. Organisers of the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford have announced that one of the most popular and distinctive aircraft ever to appear at the airshow will be among almost 300 others taking part from around the world. The US Air Force B-2 ‘Spirit’ stealth bomber, which last touched down at RAF Fairford for the airshow in 1999, will make a 10,000-mile round trip from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to take pride of place within the Air Tattoo’s static aircraft park. The B-2 ‘Spirit’ has the ability to deliver massive firepower in a short time anywhere in the world and through previously impenetrable defences. It has both a conventional weapons and nuclear capability. First flown in 1989, the stealth bomber has since taken part in a number of military operations including Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya.
27 Jun 12. Northrop Grumman Corporation is participating as one of the principal industry sponsors at this year’s Waddington International Air Show being held on Saturday 30th June and Sunday 1st July at RAF Waddington, Lincoln. Northrop Grumman leads the industry team providing long-term technical support to the Ministry of Defence, under a 20-year whole life support programme, for the fleet of Sentry E-3D Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft based at RAF Waddington.
During the air show Northrop Grumman will highlight its capabilities in aircraft whole life maintenance and support, and unmanned aircraft systems for airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. In addition to the exhibit stand located in Hangar 4, the company will have on display a full-sized model of the MQ-4C Triton Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System (BAMS UAS) based on the combat-proven RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS. Northrop Grumman is the design organization for the E-3D Sentry fleet providing long-term UK-based technical support to the programme through the Joint Sentry Support Team. Working in partnership with the Sentry Project Team, Northrop Grumman provides a range of services to support the Sentry E-3D AWACS aircraft through to 2025. Northrop Grumman also provides the radar and in-service support for the radar. Members of Northrop Grumman’s Joint Sentry Support Team include BAE Systems, Cobham and AAR. In 2011, Northrop Grumman, through the Sentry Project Team, played a key role in supporting the UK’s military operations in Libya by making a successful contribution to the fielding of the initial deployed fleet of aircraft together with the associated responsive supply chain network. The Northrop Grumman-led team also provided supplementary maintenance at RAF Waddington to accommodate the two-fold increase in fleet flying hours experienced during these operations. The company has a well-established presence in the UK and operates from locations at London, Fareham, Chester, Coventry, Hendon, New Malden, Peterborough, RAF Waddington and Solihull, providing avionics, communications, electronic warfare systems, marine navigation systems, unmanned ground vehicles, C4ISR solutions and mission planning, cyber security, IT systems and software development.