San Diego CA: The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a $14 million contract extension to integrate its Common Link Integration Processing (CLIP) system on B-1B and B-52 aircraft, providing aircrews with enhanced battlefield awareness, communications capabilities and weapons management.
Under the 17-month contract extension, Northrop Grumman will support software integration, ground and flight tests, and Air Force and joint interoperability certifications.
All 66 aircraft in the B-1 bomber fleet and 94 aircraft in the B-52 fleet will be CLIP enabled.
CLIP is a software package that allows existing platforms without a tactical data link, as well as platforms with different data links, to communicate with each other.
In June 2010, CLIP completed its first test flight as a component of the B-1B Lancer Fully Integrated Data Link program, exchanging real-time unit and tracking information via the Link 16 network and the Joint Range Extension Satellite network.
The operations included using Link 16 to assign a target for attack and release of a simulated Joint Direct Attack Munitions weapon to complete the mission assignment. Northrop Grumman was awarded CLIP in June 2005.
The CLIP system enables weapon systems to interface with the Global Information Grid, easing crew workload by providing data to automatically retask the weapons system.
Another CLIP feature is the use of digital commands so crews can update the status of information electronically and communicate more effectively.
CLIP software executes in a wide range of computing environments and offers a variety of deployment options. CLIP is designed to be Navy Open Architecture compliant as well as Joint Tactical Radio System Software Communications Architecture compliant.
