[Local] BOT leaders get aerospace updates

Valley Press on ^ | Thursday, March 22, 2007. | ALLISON GATLIN

[BenLurkin]

WASHINGTON - While no longer the dominant economic force in the Antelope Valley, the area's aerospace industry is still a vital part of the economy.

Leaders of the Antelope Valley Board of Trade heard largely positive reports from representatives of the major aerospace companies during their annual visit to the nation's capital this week.

In visits to the Washington offices of The Boeing Co., Northrop Grumman Corp. and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. - they received updates on the companies' ongoing work at Palmdale's Air Force Plant 42 and Edwards Air Force Base and prospects for its continuance.

One new topic of interest arose from Northrop Grumman concerning recent proposals to modernize the nation's bomber fleet.

The B-2 fleet was built in Palmdale at Air Force Plant 42, where maintenance and upgrade work continue.

In addition to the B-2, the nation's bomber fleet includes B-52 and B-1 bombers, which first entered service in the 1950s and 1980s, respectively, and are expected to continue on duty for another 50 years.

"They're going to be all we have for a long time," said Harry Heimple, Northrop Grumman's manager of government requirements. It's payload, it's range, it's survivability," he said. "The bomber brings all those to the table."

Northrop Grumman, together with The Boeing Co., is requesting $102 million in the fiscal year 2008 budget to initiate modernizations that will help carry the bombers through their anticipated lifetimes.

There is no road map for future modernizations beyond those already begun, Heimple said, noting that without upgrades, the bombers' capabilities will "flatten" as years go by and threats increase "at an alarming rate."

Among the capabilities the proposal will add to the B-2 is the ability to carry the Massive Ordinance Penetrator, a 30,000-pound guided bomb designed for destroying deeply buried targets.

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