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VISTORBELITUNG.COM,The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, more commonly known as the "Stealth Bomber," is one of the most advanced and expensive combat aircraft ever built. With its iconic "flying wing" design and unparalleled stealth capabilities, the B-2 has been the backbone of the United States Air Force's (USAF) strategic bomber force for decades.
The B-2 Spirit is designed to penetrate even the most sophisticated enemy air defenses undetected. Its primary secret lies in its comprehensive low-observable (LO) stealth technology, which encompasses the aircraft's shape, materials, and even thermal and sound emission management.
Here are some key specifications of the B-2 Spirit:
• Crew: 2 (pilot and mission commander)
• Length: 69 feet (21 meters)
• Wingspan: 172 feet (52.4 meters)
• Height: 17 feet (5.2 meters)
• Wing Area: 5,000 square feet (460 square meters)
• Empty Weight: 158,000 pounds (71,668 kg)
• Maximum Takeoff Weight: 376,000 pounds (170,550 kg)
• Engines: 4 × General Electric F118-GE-100 turbofans, each producing 17,300 lbf (77 kN) of thrust.
• Maximum Speed: High subsonic (approximately 760 km/h or 470 mph)
• Maximum Cruising Altitude: 50,000 feet (15,240 meters)
• Range: Over 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km) unrefueled, and over 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km) with one aerial refueling.
• Payload Capacity: Up to 50,000 pounds (22,700 kg) of ordnance in two internal bays.
The B-2's "flying wing" design eliminates conventional vertical control surfaces, which significantly reduces its radar cross-section. The aircraft is also coated with advanced radar-absorbent material (RAM) and features curved surfaces to deflect radar waves. Even its engines are designed to minimize heat signatures.
The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear munitions. This flexibility allows it to perform a wide range of missions, from precision strikes against high-value targets to strategic deterrence operations.
The armament the B-2 can carry is highly diverse, including:
• Conventional Bombs:
• Up to 80 x 500-pound class bombs (Mk-82) or 80 x GBU-38 JDAMs (Joint Direct Attack Munition).
• 36 x 750-pound class CBU (Cluster Bomb Unit) bombs.
• 16 x 2000-pound class weapons (Mk-84, JDAM-84, JDAM-102).
• 16 x AGM-154 JSOW (Joint Standoff Weapon) missiles or 16 x AGM-158 JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) missiles.
• 8 x 5,000-pound GBU-28 LGB (Laser Guided Bomb) bombs.
• Nuclear Weapons:
• 16 x B61 or B83 nuclear bombs.
The B-2's precision strike capability is enhanced by an integrated GPS (Global Positioning System) guidance system, enabling it to hit targets with high accuracy even in adverse weather conditions or in GPS-denied environments.
Operational History
Unveiled to the public in 1988 and making its first flight in July 1989, the B-2 Spirit became operational in 1997. Although initially designed for nuclear warfare during the Cold War, the B-2's role has adapted over time.
Some notable points in its operational history include:
• Kosovo War (1999): The B-2 was first used in combat during the Kosovo War, demonstrating its capability in precision strike missions against targets in Serbia.
• Operation Enduring Freedom (2001): B-2s were involved in long-duration missions from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, to Afghanistan.
• Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003): B-2s conducted significant strikes in Iraq, dropping over 1.5 million pounds of munitions.
• Operation Odyssey Dawn (2011): B-2s were among the first to enter Libyan airspace to enforce the no-fly zone.
• Yemen Strikes (2024): B-2s were deployed to strike Houthi facilities in Yemen, demonstrating their relevance in modern conflicts.
Despite its very high production cost (approximately US$737 million per unit in 1997), the B-2 Spirit remains a vital asset for the U.S. Air Force due to its ability to penetrate enemy defenses with a high degree of secrecy, reducing the risk of retaliation, and projecting massive combat power anywhere in the world. Currently, there are around 19 B-2 Spirit units in operation, mostly based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.
While new technologies like the B-21 Raider are being developed as its successor, the B-2 Spirit continues to be a symbol of technological superiority and an unparalleled deterrent force in the skies.