What is the B-2 Spirit? The legendary stealth flying wing bomber of the United States.

The only one of its kind in the worldUnited StatesStealth BomberNorthropFlying Wing B-2 SpiritThe world’s first stealth strategic bomber, in service for 35 years Northrop Grumman produced the flying wing design stealth strategic bomber. First flight in 1989, entered service in 1997. Only 21 units were produced; unit cost $2.1 billion — considered the most expensive aircraft in the world. Played a role in deep penetration and nuclear deterrence during operations in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria. Its successor is the B-21 Raider. İçerik TablosuWhat is the B-2 Spirit?Technical SpecificationsOperational HistorySimilar Aircraft in the WorldRelated NewsOverviewTechnical SpecificationsComparisonSources ManufacturerNorthropUSA Production21units Unit Price$2.1 billionregistered price Range≈11,000 kmtransport What is the B-2 Spirit?The world’s first stealth strategic bomber B-2 Spirit is a stealth strategic bomber produced by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Air Force during the Cold War in the 1980s. First flight on July 17, 1989, entered service on January 1, 1997. Its design is unique: no traditional fuselage, tail, or vertical wings; the aircraft features a single large semicircular/triangular “flying wing” structure. This architecture greatly reduces radar cross-section (RCS) — a B-2’s radar visibility is equivalent to that of a small bird. The surface coating uses special Radar Absorbent Material (RAM); it is not just simple carbon composites, but extremely expensive and requires maintenance after each flight. Its combat roles include: Deep penetration — stealthy flight deep within enemy air defense systems. Strategic bombing — carrying 16 nuclear bombs or 80 500-pound conventional bombs. GBU-57 MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) — the only aircraft capable of carrying 13,600 kg “bunker buster” bombs, designed for deeply buried targets like Iranian nuclear facilities. Operational use: Kosovo in 1999, Afghanistan from 2001 onwards, Iraq in 2003, Libya in 2011, ISIS in 2017, Yemen in 2024. Based at Whiteman Air Force Base (Missouri, USA). Only 21 units were produced; one was lost in an accident in Guam in 2008 (the Kansas Spirit), reducing the fleet to 20. Each B-2 has its own name (e.g., Spirit of America, Spirit of Texas, etc.). It is planned to retire by 2032, replaced by the B-21 Raider. ManufacturerNorthropUSA Production21units Unit Price$2.1 billionregistered Payload≈18 tonsbombs Range≈11,000 kmtransport Crew2pilots Technical SpecificationsFeatureValue TypeFlying wing stealth strategic bomber ManufacturerNorthrop Grumman Crew2 (pilot + co-pilot) Length21 m Wingspan52.4 m Maximum Takeoff Weight≈170,600 kg Engines4 × General Electric F118-GE-100 turbofan engines Thrust4 × 17,300 lbf Maximum Speed≈Mach 0.95 Range≈11,000 km (unlimited with aerial refueling) Service Ceiling15,000 m Ammunition16 × B61/B83 nuclear bombs or 80 × 500 lb or 16 × 2,000 lb JDAM or 2 × GBU-57 MOP (13,600 kg) StealthFlying wing + radar absorbent material — RCS ≈ 0.1 m² Production1989-2000 (21 units) Service1997+ RetirementTarget 2032 (to be replaced by B-21) Operational HistoryFirst flight in 1989, entered service in 19971999 Kosovo, 2001 Afghanistan, 2003 Iraq — first deployment2011 Libya — NATO operation2024 Yemen — dropping heavy bombs on Houthi positionsGBU-57 MOP — 13,600 kg bunker buster bomb2008 Guam accident — lost the Kansas SpiritMaintenance in dedicated climate-controlled hangars before each flight Similar Aircraft in the WorldBomberManufacturer / CountryStealthProduction B-2 SpiritNorthrop — 🇺🇸Full21 units B-21 RaiderNorthrop — 🇺🇸Full (new)Planned 100+ B-52 StratofortressBoeing — 🇺🇸None700+ produced B-1B LancerBoeing — 🇺🇸Low100 Tu-160 BlackjackTupolev — 🇷🇺Low17 + production continues H-20 (in development)Xian — 🇨🇳Full (goal)Unknown The B-2’s “Spirit of Missouri” is the first production aircraft and is today one of the highest flying record B-2s. Each flight has an operating cost exceeding $130,000 — thus the B-2 is used only for strategic priority missions. 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What is the B-2 Spirit? The legendary stealth flying wing bomber of the United States.

Technical Specifications

Operational History

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What is the B-2 Spirit? The legendary stealth flying wing bomber of the United States.

Technical Specifications

Operational History

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