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Semantic Designs Aligns with Northrop Grumman to Modernize B-2 Spirit Bomber Software Systems

Dépèche transmise le 11 mai 2009 par Business Wire

Semantic Designs Aligns with Northrop Grumman to Modernize B-2 Spirit Bomber Software Systems

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Semantic Designs, Inc. (SD), a leading provider of automated software modernization tools, announced today that Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has acquired an Enterprise Software Modernization License to apply SD's JOVIAL2C direct translation tool to the U.S. Air Force’s B-2 Spirit Bomber Operational Flight Program (OFP) Refresh Project. The project will enhance and extend the lifetime of the B-2, the flagship of the nation's long range strike arsenal.

Although the B-2 is the Air Force’s newest bomber, its computers and processors require upgrade to keep up with integration efforts. Expanded and more reliable systems are necessary to maintain the B-2's leading edge combat capabilities.

As the Air Force’s B-2 prime contractor, Northrop Grumman contracted Semantic Designs to construct cost-effective, automated tools and translation methods to modernize the flight management computer system software applications, beginning with the OFP, by converting the legacy JOVIAL code to C. Northrop Grumman applied its system engineering methodologies to integrate new hardware and used the JOVIAL2C translator to convert the flight software to operate in the new processing environment.

“Semantic Designs’ automated JOVIAL2C direct translator allows Northrop Grumman to modernize the OFP and other software avionics components included in this B-2 refresh project,” said Ira D. Baxter, Semantic Designs’ chief executive officer. “Our translator provides a fast, reliable conversion to C at a lower cost than a manual conversion. It also gives the B-2 a modern software language that will support the operational and mission needs of the aircraft throughout its lifetime.”

Semantic Designs used its DMS Software Reengineering Toolkit and existing JOVIAL transformation capability to develop a fully automated, cost-effective JOVIAL2C migration tool for the OFP and other JOVIAL programs used by the B-2. SD provided deep software engineering and language migration skills to construct this translator over a period of about 12 months. SD and Northrop Grumman engineers collaborated to validate that the automated OFP conversion achieved 100% accurate translation, including replacement of all JOVIAL programming and data declaration constructs and calls on the legacy operating system. The SD translation tool converts the entire OFP application in a few CPU hours with no manual interaction of any kind. SD’s tool development process enabled the construction and validation of the translator without ever acquiring or seeing the source code.

Semantic Designs (www.SemanticDesigns.com) is a recognized leader in the development of automated software tools to address complex problems with large, critical software systems. Worldwide customers include Fortune 200 enterprises, government agencies, prime government contractors and channel partners. Founded in 1996, Semantic Designs is a privately held corporation based in Austin, Texas, delivering effective results including deep analysis, quality and modernizations.

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