NORTHROP GRUMMAN
| Manufacturer | PWR | Max TD | Max TR | WS | FL | Max RF | Max Kts /M | H | Max OC | Max Pay. | C | P | Max WLE | E | CR Max PNR |
| B-2 Spirit Bomber/interdictor | 85kN | 52.4 | 26.3 | 11,100 | 50,000 | 2 | 22680 | 1853 | |||||||
| 4 x GE Aircraft Engines F118 100 Military Turbofans/Jets | |||||||||||||||
| Range unrefuelled, 18,500km with one refuelling | |||||||||||||||
| E-2C Hawkeye Special mission - AEW | 3657kW | 24.6 | 17.6 | 2,854 | 340 kt | 30,840 | 5 | 4hrs | |||||||
| 2 x Allison T56 Turboprop | |||||||||||||||
| Range is ferry | |||||||||||||||
| EA-6B Prowler Special mission - Electronics/EW | 99.6kN | 16.2 | 18.2 | 3,861 | 566 kt | 5 | 41,190 | 1,769 | 4 | 4 | 1hr | ||||
| 2 x Pratt & Whitney J52 P-408 Turbojet | |||||||||||||||
| Range is ferry | |||||||||||||||
| EF-111A Raven Special mission - Electronics/Tact Supp Jamming | 186 kN | 9.8 | 23.2 | 1228kt | 44,000 | 2 | |||||||||
| 2 x Pratt & Whitney TF30 Turbofan | |||||||||||||||
| F-14A Tomcat Interceptor/air superiority | 186 kN | 11.7 | 19.1 | M 2.0 | 53,000 | 2 | 6577 | ||||||||
| 2 x Pratt & Whitney TF30 Turbofan | |||||||||||||||
| F-14D Super Tomcat Interceptor/air superiority | 71.6kN | 119 kN | 0.0 | 19.1 | M 2.0 | 53,000 | 2 | 2 | 6577 | ||||||
| 2 x GE Aircraft Engines F110 400 Military Turbofans/Jets | |||||||||||||||
| Lantirn FLIR pod | |||||||||||||||
Abbreviations: PWR-Power, Max TD-Thrust dry, Max TR-Thrust re-heat, WS-Wingspan, FL-Fuselage length, Max RF-Max range (km), H-Hardpoints, Max OC-Max Operating Ceiling, Max Pay.-Max Payload, C-Crew, P-Pax, Max WLE-Max Load External (warload) (kg), E-Endurance, CR Max PNR-Combat Radius Max Payload No-Refuel.
Northrop Grumman Corporation, 1840 Century Park East,Los Angeles 90067-2199, California, USA; Tel:+1 310 553 6262, Fax:+1 310 201 3023, WWW www.northgrum.com
A-10 THUNDERBOLT II
Northrop took over responsibility for support of the former Fairchild A-10 in 1987. Some 500 aircraft remain in service with the US Air Force and are being upgraded with night-vision and global-positioning capability.
B-2 SPIRIT
The B-2 stealth bomber was declared operational in April 1997 with delivery of the 13th aircraft to the US Air Force. An operational force of 21 B-2As is planned, the last aircraft to be delivered in 2001. All will be upgraded to definitive Block 30 standard.
The B-2 was first flown in July 1989. Intended as a nuclear bomber, a conventional capability was added when a GPS-aided targeting system and 900kg munition become operational early in 1997.
EA-6B PROWLER
A team led by Northrop Grumman was selected to upgrade the 120 EA-6Bs still in US Navy service to Improved Capability (ICAP) III standard, adding reactive jamming capability and installing new controls and displays. EA-6Bs have replaced US Air Force EF-111s in the tactical jamming role, with formation of the first joint squadron early in 1997. All aircraft have been upgraded to Block 89A standard, with improved computer, communications, navigation and electronic flight-instruments. The first test aircraft was flown in June 1997.
Derived from the A-6, the EA-6B was first flown in May 1989, and 149 were built by Grumman for the US Navy and Marine Corps
E-2 HAWKEYE
Delivery of new-production E-2C AEW aircraft to the US Navy resumed in February 1997. The latest Group II E-2C incorporates the Lockheed Martin APS-145 radar, with fully automatic overwater and overland detection and tracking.
Northrop Grumman rolled out the first upgraded Hawkeye 2000 in April 1998. This adds the Co-operative Engagement Center datalink terminal, satellite communications and new mission computer and operator consoles. Delivery of 21 new Hawkeye 2000s to the USN will begin in 2001, and some 50 Group 2 will be upgraded to the new standard.
The E-2C was first flown in January 1971, and customers include Egypt (6), Israel (4), Japan (13), Singapore (4) and Taiwan (4). France has ordered two of the aircraft, with options on two more.
E-8 JSTARS
The Joint Surveillance Attack Radar System (JSTARS) achieved initial operational capability with the US Air Force in December 1997, following delivery of the third production E-8C.
Based on a remanufactured Boeing 707-300 airframe, and equipped with a Northrop Grumman battlefield-surveillance radar, the E-8 was first flown in December 1988. Two E-8A prototypes were built.
The first production E-8C was delivered in June 1996. Procurement for the USAF was reduced from 19 to 13 aircraft by the US Department of Defense's 1997 Quadrenniel Defense Review.
EF-111A RAVEN
US Air Force EF-111A electronic-warfare aircraft will be retired in 1998. Grumman converted 42 F-111As to EF-111As.
F-5 TIGER II
Production of the F-5E/F ended in 1987, but several upgrade programmes are under way. Northrop Grumman began flight tests of a Tiger IV in April 1995, marketing the upgraded F-5E as a lead-in trainer for the Lockheed Martin F-16.
F-14 TOMCAT
US Navy F-14s equipped with the Lockheed Martin LANTIRN targeting pod became operational halfway through 1996, providing a precision-strike capability. F-14s are also being retrofitted with a GEC-Marconi digital flight-control system to improve their handling characteristics.
The F-14 was first flown in January 1969 and 557 F-14As were built by Grumman, including 79 for Iran; 56 were re-engined with General Electric F110s, and redesignated F-14Bs, and are now receiving an avionics upgrade. A further 37 F-14Ds, with F110s and digital avionics, were produced.
T-38 TALON
Boeing Flew the first prototype of the upgraded T-38C in July 1998. The company is teamed with Israel Aircraft Industries to upgrade the avionics in US Air Force Northrop T-38 advanced trainers. The upgrade will be offered to other T-38 operators, including Portugal and Taiwan.
Source: Flight International
