Topzle Topzle

Northrop B-2 Spirit

Updated: Wikipedia source

Northrop B-2 Spirit

The Northrop B-2 Spirit is an American heavy strategic bomber that uses low-observable stealth technology to penetrate sophisticated anti-aircraft defenses. It is often referred to as a stealth bomber. A subsonic flying wing with a crew of two, the B-2 was designed by Northrop (later Northrop Grumman) as the prime contractor, with Boeing, Hughes Aircraft Company, and Vought as principal subcontractors. It was produced from 1988 to 2000. The bomber can drop conventional and thermonuclear weapons, such as up to eighty 500-pound class (230 kg) Mk 82 JDAM GPS-guided bombs, or sixteen 2,400-pound (1,100 kg) B83 nuclear bombs. The B-2 is the only acknowledged in-service aircraft that can carry large air-to-surface standoff weapons in a stealth configuration. Development began under the Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB) project during the Carter administration, which cancelled the Mach 2-capable B-1A bomber in part because the ATB showed such promise, but development difficulties delayed progress and drove up costs. Ultimately, the program produced 21 B-2s at an average cost of $2.13 billion each (~$4.17 billion in 2024 dollars), including development, engineering, testing, production, and procurement. Building each aircraft cost an average of US$737 million, while total procurement costs (including production, spare parts, equipment, retrofitting, and software support) averaged $929 million (~$1.14 billion in 2024 dollars) per plane. The project's considerable capital and operating costs made it controversial in the U.S. Congress even before the winding down of the Cold War dramatically reduced the desire for a stealth aircraft designed to strike deep in Soviet territory. Consequently, in the late 1980s and 1990s lawmakers shrank the planned purchase of 132 bombers to 21. The B-2 can perform attack missions at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet (15,000 m); it has an unrefueled range of more than 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) and can fly more than 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) with one midair refueling. It entered service in 1997 as the second aircraft designed with advanced stealth technology, after the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk attack aircraft. Primarily designed as a nuclear bomber, the B-2 was first used in combat to drop conventional, non-nuclear ordnance in the Kosovo War in 1999. It was later used in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, and Iran. The United States Air Force has nineteen B-2s in service as of 2024. One was destroyed in a 2008 crash, and another was likely retired from service after being damaged in a crash in 2022. The Air Force plans to operate the B-2s until 2032, when the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is to replace them.

Infobox

Type
Stealth strategic heavy bomber
National origin
United States
Manufacturer
Northrop Corporation Northrop Grumman
Status
In service
Primary user
United States Air Force
Number built
21
Manufactured
1989–2000
Introduction date
1 January 1997
First flight
17 July 1989; 36 years ago (1989-07-17)
Successors
Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider

Tables

Individual aircraft Sources: B-2 Spirit (Pace),[188] Fas.org[189] · Individual aircraft
Spirit of America
Spirit of America
Air Vehicle No.
AV-1
Block No.
Test/30
USAF s/n
82-1066
Formal name
Spirit of America
Time in service, status
14 July 2000 – Active
Spirit of Arizona
Spirit of Arizona
Air Vehicle No.
AV-2
Block No.
Test/30
USAF s/n
82-1067
Formal name
Spirit of Arizona
Time in service, status
4 December 1997 – Active
Spirit of New York
Spirit of New York
Air Vehicle No.
AV-3
Block No.
Test/30
USAF s/n
82-1068
Formal name
Spirit of New York
Time in service, status
10 October 1997 – Active
Spirit of Indiana
Spirit of Indiana
Air Vehicle No.
AV-4
Block No.
Test/30
USAF s/n
82-1069
Formal name
Spirit of Indiana
Time in service, status
22 May 1999 – Active
Spirit of Ohio
Spirit of Ohio
Air Vehicle No.
AV-5
Block No.
Test/20
USAF s/n
82-1070
Formal name
Spirit of Ohio
Time in service, status
18 July 1997 – Active
Spirit of Mississippi
Spirit of Mississippi
Air Vehicle No.
AV-6
Block No.
Test/30
USAF s/n
82-1071
Formal name
Spirit of Mississippi
Time in service, status
23 May 1997 – Active
Spirit of Texas
Spirit of Texas
Air Vehicle No.
AV-7
Block No.
10
USAF s/n
88-0328
Formal name
Spirit of Texas
Time in service, status
21 August 1994 – Active
Spirit of Missouri
Spirit of Missouri
Air Vehicle No.
AV-8
Block No.
10
USAF s/n
88-0329
Formal name
Spirit of Missouri
Time in service, status
31 March 1994 – Active
Spirit of California
Spirit of California
Air Vehicle No.
AV-9
Block No.
10
USAF s/n
88-0330
Formal name
Spirit of California
Time in service, status
17 August 1994 – Active
Spirit of South Carolina
Spirit of South Carolina
Air Vehicle No.
AV-10
Block No.
10
USAF s/n
88-0331
Formal name
Spirit of South Carolina
Time in service, status
30 December 1994 – Active
Spirit of Washington
Spirit of Washington
Air Vehicle No.
AV-11
Block No.
10
USAF s/n
88-0332
Formal name
Spirit of Washington
Time in service, status
29 October 1994 – Severely damaged by fire in February 2010, repaired
Spirit of Kansas
Spirit of Kansas
Air Vehicle No.
AV-12
Block No.
10
USAF s/n
89-0127
Formal name
Spirit of Kansas
Time in service, status
17 February 1995 – 23 February 2008, crashed
Spirit of Nebraska
Spirit of Nebraska
Air Vehicle No.
AV-13
Block No.
10
USAF s/n
89-0128
Formal name
Spirit of Nebraska
Time in service, status
28 June 1995 – Active
Spirit of Georgia
Spirit of Georgia
Air Vehicle No.
AV-14
Block No.
10
USAF s/n
89-0129
Formal name
Spirit of Georgia
Time in service, status
14 November 1995 – Suffered damage to the wing following a landing gear collapse in September 2021. Repaired at Plant 42
Spirit of Alaska
Spirit of Alaska
Air Vehicle No.
AV-15
Block No.
10
USAF s/n
90-0040
Formal name
Spirit of Alaska
Time in service, status
24 January 1996 – Active
Spirit of Hawaii
Spirit of Hawaii
Air Vehicle No.
AV-16
Block No.
10
USAF s/n
90-0041
Formal name
Spirit of Hawaii
Time in service, status
10 January 1996 – 10 December 2022, retired after crash landing
Spirit of Florida
Spirit of Florida
Air Vehicle No.
AV-17
Block No.
20
USAF s/n
92-0700
Formal name
Spirit of Florida
Time in service, status
3 July 1996 – Active
Spirit of Oklahoma
Spirit of Oklahoma
Air Vehicle No.
AV-18
Block No.
20
USAF s/n
93-1085
Formal name
Spirit of Oklahoma
Time in service, status
15 May 1996 – Active, Flight Test
Spirit of Kitty Hawk
Spirit of Kitty Hawk
Air Vehicle No.
AV-19
Block No.
20
USAF s/n
93-1086
Formal name
Spirit of Kitty Hawk
Time in service, status
30 August 1996 – Active
Spirit of Pennsylvania
Spirit of Pennsylvania
Air Vehicle No.
AV-20
Block No.
30
USAF s/n
93-1087
Formal name
Spirit of Pennsylvania
Time in service, status
5 August 1997 – Active
Spirit of Louisiana
Spirit of Louisiana
Air Vehicle No.
AV-21
Block No.
30
USAF s/n
93-1088
Formal name
Spirit of Louisiana
Time in service, status
11 November 1997 – Active
Air Vehicle No.
Block No.
USAF s/n
Formal name
Time in service, status
AV-1
Test/30
82-1066
Spirit of America
14 July 2000 – Active
AV-2
Test/30
82-1067
Spirit of Arizona
4 December 1997 – Active
AV-3
Test/30
82-1068
Spirit of New York
10 October 1997 – Active
AV-4
Test/30
82-1069
Spirit of Indiana
22 May 1999 – Active
AV-5
Test/20
82-1070
Spirit of Ohio
18 July 1997 – Active
AV-6
Test/30
82-1071
Spirit of Mississippi
23 May 1997 – Active
AV-7
10
88-0328
Spirit of Texas
21 August 1994 – Active
AV-8
10
88-0329
Spirit of Missouri
31 March 1994 – Active
AV-9
10
88-0330
Spirit of California
17 August 1994 – Active
AV-10
10
88-0331
Spirit of South Carolina
30 December 1994 – Active
AV-11
10
88-0332
Spirit of Washington
29 October 1994 – Severely damaged by fire in February 2010, repaired
AV-12
10
89-0127
Spirit of Kansas
17 February 1995 – 23 February 2008, crashed
AV-13
10
89-0128
Spirit of Nebraska
28 June 1995 – Active
AV-14
10
89-0129
Spirit of Georgia
14 November 1995 – Suffered damage to the wing following a landing gear collapse in September 2021. Repaired at Plant 42
AV-15
10
90-0040
Spirit of Alaska
24 January 1996 – Active
AV-16
10
90-0041
Spirit of Hawaii
10 January 1996 – 10 December 2022, retired after crash landing
AV-17
20
92-0700
Spirit of Florida
3 July 1996 – Active
AV-18
20
93-1085
Spirit of Oklahoma
15 May 1996 – Active, Flight Test
AV-19
20
93-1086
Spirit of Kitty Hawk
30 August 1996 – Active
AV-20
30
93-1087
Spirit of Pennsylvania
5 August 1997 – Active
AV-21
30
93-1088
Spirit of Louisiana
11 November 1997 – Active
AV-22 through AV-165
Cancelled

References

  1. The "stealth bomber" moniker has also been applied to the canceled McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II and ongoing Northro
  2. Maximum takeoff weight is classified; listed figure is based on statement from manufacturer that aircraft's payload capa
  3. "Northrop B-2A Spirit fact sheet." Archived 28 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine National Museum of the United States
    http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2757
  4. Air & Space Forces Magazine
    https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/2009/May%202009/0509facts_fig.pdf
  5. Stealth: The Secret Contest to Invent Invisible Aircraft
  6. The $5 billion Misunderstanding: The Collapse of the Navy's A-12 Stealth Bomber Program
  7. Higher, Heavier, Farther, and now Undetectable?
    https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep06400.7
  8. aviationweek.com
    https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/story-behind-aviation-weeks-b-2-rollout-photo-scoop
  9. Thornborough, A. M.; Stealth, Aircraft Illustrated special, Ian Allan (1991).
  10. United States Air Force
    https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104482/b-2-spirit/
  11. "B-2 Bomber: Cost and Operational Issues Letter Report, GAO/NSIAD-97-181." Archived 22 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine
    https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-97-181/pdf/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-97-181.pdf
  12. "B-2 Spirit Fact Sheet.". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
    https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104482/b-2-spirit/
  13. CNN Politics
    https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/16/politics/us-strikes-iran-backed-houthis-yemen/index.html
  14. "USAF Will Retire, Not Repair, Damaged B-2; Fleet Shrinking to 19 Aircraft". Air & Space Forces Magazine. 13 May 2024.
    https://www.airandspaceforces.com/damaged-b-2-retire-not-repair/
  15. US Airforce
    https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/123360/b-2-accident-report-released/
  16. "Moisture confused sensors in B-2 crash"
    https://archive.today/20120719052100/http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/06/airforce_b2_crashreport_060508w/
  17. Air & Space Forces Magazine
    https://www.airandspaceforces.com/usaf-to-retire-b-1-b-2-in-early-2030s-as-b-21-comes-on-line/
  18. Rao, G. A. and S. P. Mahulikar. "Integrated review of stealth technology and its role in airpower". Aeronautical Journal
  19. Crickmore and Crickmore 2003, p. 9.
  20. "Stealth Aircraft." Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission, 2003. Retrieved 5
    http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Evolution_of_Technology/Stealth_aircraft/Tech31.htm
  21. Griffin & Kinnu 2007, pp. 14–15
  22. The integrator, Northrop Grumman (newspaper), Vol. 8, No. 12; 30 June 2006, p. 8. author: Carol Ilten.
  23. Withington 2006, p. 7
  24. Goodall 1992, [page needed]
  25. Pace 1999, pp. 20–27
  26. Rich & Janos 1996[page needed]
  27. joebaugher.com
    http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/newb2_1.html
  28. Donald 2003, p. 13
  29. Sweetman 1991, pp. 21, 30.
  30. Spick 2000, p. 339
  31. Van Voorst, Bruce. "The Stealth Takes Wing." Time, 31 July 1989. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090821005144/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,958256,00.html?promoid=googlep
  32. Griffin & Kinnu 2007, pp. ii–v
  33. YouTube
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150712052753/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzQPIlXe2H0
  34. Vartaebedian, Ralph. "Defense worker loses job over his ties to India". Archived 7 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine
    https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/6359225.html?dids=6359225:6359225&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+16%2C+1993&author=Vartaebedian%2C+Ralph&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Defense+worker+loses+job+over+his+ties+to+India&pqatl=google
  35. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1989/10/09/unraveling-stealths-black-world/e682722e-f05c-4cca-a486-2a311605df66/
  36. Pace 1999, pp. 29–36.
  37. AP. "Stealth bomber classified documents missing." Archived 15 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine The New York Times, 24
    https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE1DB1231F937A15755C0A961948260
  38. Locate a Federal Inmate
    https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/
  39. "Press Release." FBI Honolulu. Retrieved:: 1 December 2010.
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070222093416/http://honolulu.fbi.gov/pressrel/2005/goodwin102605.htm
  40. Foster, Peter. "Engineer jailed for selling US stealth bomber technology to China." Archived 3 July 2017 at the Wayback
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8280233/Engineer-jailed-for-selling-US-stealth-bomber-technology-to-China.html
  41. Pace 1999, pp. 75–76
  42. "President George H. Bush's State of the Union Address." c-span.org, 28 January 1992. Retrieved 13 September 2009. Archi
    http://www.c-span.org/executive/transcript.asp?cat=current_event&code=bush_admin&year=1992
  43. Graham, Bradley. "US to add one B-2 plane to 20 plane fleet." The Washington Post, 22 March 1996, p. A20.
  44. Eden 2004, pp. 350–353.
  45. Capaccio, Tony. "The B-2's Stealthy Skins Need Tender, Lengthy Care." Defense Week, 27 May 1997, p. 1.
  46. US General Accounting Office September 1996, pp. 53, 56.
  47. "The Gold Plated Hangar Queen Survives." Archived 17 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine Strategyworld.com, 14 June 2010. R
    http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20100614.aspx
  48. Murphy, Robert D., Michael J. Hazard, Jeffrey T. Hunter, and James F. Dinwiddie. B-2 Bomber: Status of Cost, Development
  49. US General Accounting Office, October 1996, pp. 4, 23
  50. MeasuringWorth
    http://www.measuringworth.com/datasets/usgdp/
  51. Axe, David. "Why Can't the Air Force Build an Affordable Plane?" Archived 23 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine The Atlan
    https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/03/why-cant-the-air-force-build-an-affordable-plane/254998/
  52. The DEW Line
    https://web.archive.org/web/20121020092809/http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2011/08/exclusive-us-air-force-combat.html
  53. Schmitt, Eric. "Key Senate Backer of Stealth Bomber Sees It in Jeopardy." Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine T
    https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/14/us/key-senate-backer-of-stealth-bomber-sees-it-in-jeopardy.html?pagewanted=1
  54. Columbus Dispatch
    https://www.dispatch.com/article/20150706/NEWS/307069768
  55. Sorenson 1995, p. 168
  56. "Moisture in sensors led to stealth bomber crash, Air Force report says." Kansas City Star, 5 June 2008.
  57. "Zell Miller's Attack on Kerry: A Little Out Of Date." Archived 14 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine FactCheck.org, 4 Oct
    http://www.factcheck.org/zell_millers_attack_on_kerry_a_little.html
  58. Bender, Brian and John Robinson. "More Stealth Bombers Mean Less Combat Power". Defense Daily, 5 August 1997, p. 206.
  59. US General Accounting Office September 1996, p. 70.
  60. US General Accounting Office September 1996, p. 72.
  61. "Debate on Dellums Amendment to 1998 Defense Authorization Act." Archived 9 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine fas.org, 2
    https://fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/970623-b2.htm
  62. McKinney, Brooks. "Air Force Completes Preliminary Design Review of New B-2 Bomber Computer Architecture." Archived 21 M
    http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=145810
  63. "Semantic Designs Aligns with Northrop Grumman to Modernize B-2 Spirit Bomber Software Systems" Archived 9 September 201
    http://www.semanticdesigns.com/Products/Services/NorthropGrummanB2.html
  64. McKinney, Brooks. "Northrop Grumman Adding Mobile Targets to B-2 Bomber Capabilities." Archived 12 August 2018 at the Wa
    http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/90827/b_2-upgrade-adds-mobile-target-engagement.html
  65. "B-2 radar modernization program contract awarded." US Air Force, 30 December 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
    https://www.af.mil/News/story/id/123129776/
  66. Warwick, Graham. "USAF Awards B-2 Radar Upgrade Production."[permanent dead link] Aviation Week, 30 December 2008. Retri
    http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/UPGR12308.xml&headline=USAF%20Awards%20B-2%20Radar%20Upgrade%20Production&channel=defense
  67. Jennings, Gareth. "B-2 passes modernisation milestones." Archived 31 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Janes, 24 July 200
    http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jdw/jdw090724_2_n.shtml
  68. "New Composite to Improve B-2 Durability." Defense-Update, 19 November 2010. Archived 28 November 2010 at the Wayback Ma
    http://defense-update.com/wp/20101119_b2_hte.html
  69. Air & Space Forces Magazine
    https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/0710nato/
  70. Business Insider
    https://www.businessinsider.com/air-force-to-upgrade-fleet-of-bunker-buster-bombers-2012-3
  71. Mitchell Institute Aerospace Advantage Podcast "Flying and Fighting in the B-2: America’s Stealth Bomber" Archived 4 Aug
    https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/episode-18-flying-and-fighting-in-the-b-2-americas-stealth-bomber/
  72. "Pentagon Wants Unmanned Stealth Bomber to Replace B-2." Archived 14 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine Los Angeles Tim
    http://www.uasvision.com/2011/05/24/pentagon-wants-unmanned-stealth-bomber-to-replace-b-2/
  73. Schogol, Jeff. "Schwartz Defends Cost of USAF's Next-Gen Bomber" . Defense News. 29 February 2012.
    https://archive.today/20130121151525/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120229/DEFREG02/302290005/Schwartz-Defends-Cost-USAF-8217-s-Next-Gen-Bomber?odyssey=tab
  74. Less, Eloise. "Questions about whether the US needs another $55 billion worth of bombers." Archived 12 December 2012 at
    http://www.businessinsider.com/next-generation-b2-bomber-2012-3
  75. af.mil
    https://www.afgsc.af.mil/News/story/id/123356798/
  76. dodbuzz.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170223212937/https://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/06/25/b-2-bomber-set-to-receive-massive-upgrade/
  77. Defense Industry Daily
    https://www.defensedaily.com/air-force-looks-increase-b-2-mission-readiness-cockpit-display-upgrade/air-force/
  78. Tirpak, John A. "The Bomber Roadmap" Archived 29 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Air Force Magazine, June 1999. Re
    http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/1999/June%201999/0699bomber.aspx
  79. Grant, Rebecca. "Return of the Bomber, The Future of Long-Range Strike", pp. 11, 17, 29. Air Force Association, February
    https://web.archive.org/web/20141103010442/http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=ADA465958
  80. Croddy and Wirtz 2005, pp. 341–342.
  81. Spick 2000, pp. 340–341
  82. Air & Space
    http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/The-Stealth-Bomber-Elite-220257381.html?c=y&story=fullstory
  83. Sweetman 2005, pp. 73–74
  84. Boyne 2002, p. 466
  85. Fitzsimons 1978, p. 2282
  86. Noland, David. "Bombers: Northrop B-2 Archived 25 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine" Infoplease, 2007. Retrieved 24 Apri
    http://www.infoplease.com/spot/northropb2.html
  87. "The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber Archived 25 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine" Military Heat, 2007. Retrieved 24 April 20
    http://www.military-heat.com/42/b2-spirit-stealth-bomber/
  88. "B-49 – United States Nuclear Forces"
    https://fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/b-49.htm
  89. Popular Science
    https://books.google.com/books?id=NUzwukoJzGIC&q=YB-49+radar&pg=PA76
  90. "B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Facts"
    http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/B2SpiritBomber/Documents/pageDocuments/B2-Fact-Sheet.pdf
  91. Air Force Magazine
    https://web.archive.org/web/20131112190523/http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/1996/April%201996/0496bomber.aspx
  92. Kenagy, David N., Christopher T. Bird, Christopher M. Webber and Joseph R. Fischer. "Dextroamphetamine Use During B-2 Co
    http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asma/asem/2004/00000075/00000005/art00001
  93. The Atlantic
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180627111647/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/07/william-langewiesche-b-2-stealth-bomber/561719/
  94. Tucker 2010, p. 39
  95. Moir & Seabridge 2008, p. 398
  96. Tucker 2010, p. 177
  97. Richardson 2001, pp. 120–121
  98. Rip & Hasik 2002, p. 201
  99. Rip & Hasik 2002, pp. 242–246
  100. "Air Force programs: B-2." Archived 27 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Project On Government Oversight (POGO), 16 April
    http://pogoarchives.org/m/dp/dp-2003-B2.pdf
  101. Evans 2004, p. 13
  102. Mayer, Daryl. "Northrop Grumman and USAF Verify Proper Fit of 30,000 lb Penetrator Weapon on B-2 Bomber." Archived 21 Au
    http://www.defpro.com/news/details/8738/
  103. "AGM-158 JASSM Cruise Missiles: FY 2011 Orders." Archived 2 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine Defense Industry Daily, 14
    http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/AGM-158-JASSM-Cruise-Missiles-FY-2011-Orders-06895/
  104. FAS Strategic Security Blog
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140422075113/http://blogs.fas.org/security/2013/04/b-2bomber/
  105. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/20/world/middleeast/iran-nuclear-fordo-bunker-buster-bomb.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
  106. Inside the Stealth Bomber
    https://books.google.com/books?id=Q_wyJ_pKcqoC&pg=PA55
  107. Sweetman 2005, p. 73
  108. Air Force Upgrades B-2 Stealth Bomber as Modern Air Defenses Advance Archived 26 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine –
    http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/04/24/air-force-upgrades-b2-stealth-bomber-as-air-defenses-advance.html?ESRC=todayinmil.sm
  109. Siuru 1993, p. 118
  110. Air Warfare
    https://books.google.com/books?id=FW_50wm8VnMC&pg=PA466
  111. Page, Lewis. "Upgrade drags Stealth Bomber IT systems into the 90s." Archived 10 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine The
    https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/11/stealth_bomber_upgrades/
  112. Jane's Aircraft Upgrades 2003, p. 1711f
  113. "AN/APQ-181 Radar System." Archived 24 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine Raytheon. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
    http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/apq181/
  114. Moir & Seabridge 2008, p. 397
  115. Moir & Seabridge 2008, pp. 256–258
  116. "Flight Control Actuation System Integrator for the B-2 Spirit." Archived 22 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine Moog.
    http://www.moog.com/markets/aircraft/military-aircraft/special-mission/flight-control-actuation-system-integrator-for-the-b-2-spirit/
  117. Chudoba 2001, p. 76
  118. Chudoba 2001, pp. 201–202
  119. Inside the Stealth Bomber
    https://books.google.com/books?id=Q_wyJ_pKcqoC&pg=PA55
  120. Gosnell, Mariana. "Why contrails hang around." Archived 12 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine Air & Space magazine, 1
    http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/Flight_Lines.html
  121. National Interest
    https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/why-air-force-only-has-20-b-2-spirit-stealth-bombers-35802
  122. Siuru 1993, pp. 114–115
  123. Richardson 2001, p. 57
  124. Northrop Grumman Corporation
    https://www.northropgrumman.com/wp-content/uploads/B-2-Spirit-of-Innovation.pdf
  125. nationalinterest.org
    https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/americas-new-b-21-stealth-bomber-vs-russias-s-300-or-s-400-who-wins-36137
  126. nationalinterest.org
    https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/how-russia-could-someday-shootdown-f-22-f-35-or-b-2-stealth-bomber-35512
  127. Dawson 1957, p. 3.
  128. Rich 1994, p. 21
  129. Reeds Vol 14: Stealth Warship Technology
    https://books.google.com/books?id=wMB3Pg3vtbsC&pg=PA13
  130. Flight International
    http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2008/10/infamous-jsf-report-precedes-a.html
  131. "VI – Stealth aircraft: Eagles among sparrows?"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20080213001551/http://www.fas.org/spp/aircraft/part06.htm
  132. Croddy and Wirtz 2005, p. 342.
  133. Lewis, Paul. "B-2 to receive maintenance boost." Archived 16 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine Flight International, 5 Mar
    http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/b-2-to-receive-maintenance-boost-144086/
  134. Hart, Jim. "Northrop Grumman Applies New Coating to Operational B-2." Archived 9 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine "N
    http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=56001
  135. Fulghum, D. A. "First F-22 large-scale, air combat exercise wins praise and triggers surprise" (online title), "Away Gam
    https://archive.today/20130117150011/http://www.aviationnow.com/search/AvnowSearchResult.do?reference=xml/awst_xml/2007/01/08/AW_01_08_2007_p50-51-01.xml
  136. Stars and Stripes
    https://www.stripes.com/news/portable-b-2-bomber-shelters-are-built-in-parts-officially-unknown-1.1054
  137. Pace 1999, p. 66
  138. Pace 1999, p. 73
  139. "Air Force Says Bomber Performed Well"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150924180425/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-23222353.html
  140. Hansen, Staff Sgt. Ryan. "JDAM continues to be warfighter's weapon of choice." US Air Force, 17 March 2006. Retrieved 13
    https://www.af.mil/News/story/id/123017613/
  141. Tucker 2010, pp. 177–178
  142. Rip & Hasik 2002, p. 398
  143. "B-2s Turn Out Not To Be Solo Flyers"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150924180409/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-23143398.html
  144. "Pressure mounts as stealth bombers deployed". The Age, 28 February 2003.
  145. Tucker 2010, p. 178
  146. McNeil, Kirsten. "Air Force Reorganizes Nuclear Commands." Archived 2 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine armscontrol.o
    http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2008_12/nuclear_roadmap
  147. "US plans separate nuclear command." BBC News, 25 October 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
    https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7690447.stm
  148. "Air Force Global Strike Command officials assume B-52, B-2 mission." United States Air Force, 2 February 2010.
    https://www.af.mil/News/story/id/123188338/
  149. Chavanne, Bettina H. "USAF Creates Global Strike Command." Archived 11 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine Aviation Week
    http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/GSC102408.xml&headline=USAF%20Creates%20Global%20Strike%20Command
  150. Martin, David. "Crisis in Libya: U.S. bombs Qaddafi's airfields". CBS News, 20 March 2011.
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/crisis-in-libya-us-bombs-qaddafis-airfields/
  151. Air & Space Forces Magazine
    https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/0711libya/
  152. Marcus, Jonathan. "Libya military operation: Who should command?" Archived 29 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine BBC
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12813168
  153. Schmidle, Nicholas. "Getting Bin Laden." Archived 13 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine The New Yorker, 8 August 2011.
    http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/08/08/110808fa_fact_schmidle?currentPage=all
  154. India Today
    http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/us-had-planned-air-strike-to-level-osama-abbottabad-hideout/1/216617.html
  155. US flies stealth bombers over South Korea Archived 3 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Agence France-Presse, 28 April 20
    http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130328/us-flies-stealth-bombers-over-south-korea
  156. "U.S. flies B-2 stealth bombers to S. Korea in 'extended deterrence mission' aimed at North". CBS News, 28 March 2013.
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-flies-b-2-stealth-bombers-to-s-korea-in-extended-deterrence-mission-aimed-at-north/
  157. "B-2 bombers kill nearly 100 ISIS terrorists in Libya"
    https://www.foxnews.com/world/b-2-bombers-kill-nearly-100-isis-terrorists-in-libya
  158. The Atlantic
    https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/07/william-langewiesche-b-2-stealth-bomber/561719/
  159. US long-range B-2 stealth bombers target underground bunkers of Yemen's Houthi rebels. ABC News. 16 October 2024.
    https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-long-range-2-stealth-bombers-target-underground-114880390
  160. B-2 Spirits Just Sent A Very Ominous Message To Iran. The War Zone. 17 October 2024.
    https://www.twz.com/air/b-2-spirits-just-sent-a-very-ominous-message-to-iran-that-only-they-can
  161. ABC News
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-18/australian-airbase-used-in-us-strike-on-houthi-stores-yemen/104490578
  162. AP News
    https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-talks-geneva-news-06-21-2025-a7b0cdaba28b5817467ccf712d214579
  163. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/22/world/israel-iran-us-trump/dcd70805-505b-51e1-b7b1-13234e020218?smid=url-share
  164. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ckg3rzj8emjt
  165. "B-2 Crashes on Takeoff From Guam." Aviation Week, 23 February 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
    https://archive.today/20130117211217/http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/b2crsh02238.xml
  166. "Air Force: Sensor moisture caused 1st B-2 crash." Archived 4 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine USA Today, 5 June 2008. R
    https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-06-05-371843035_x.htm
  167. "B-2 crash video." Archived 4 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine YouTube. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZB-iziY2Bw
  168. Linch, Airman 1st Class Stephen. "B-2s return to flight after safety pause." US Air Force, 21 April 2008. Retrieved 1 De
    https://www.af.mil/News/story/id/123095213/
  169. "B-2 accident report released." Archived 5 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine US Air Force, 6 June 2008. Retrieved 20 M
    http://www.acc.af.mil/media/archives/story.asp?id=123101589
  170. jeremigio. "B-2 Fire at AAFB Back in February of 2010 Was 'Horrific,' Not 'Minor'." Archived 22 October 2020 at the Wayb
    https://www.pncguam.com/wright-patterseon/
  171. Mayer, Daryl. "Program office brings home 'wounded warrior'." wpafb.af.mil. Retrieved: 5 January 2012.
    https://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/story/id/123269146/
  172. ""Spirit of Washington" rises from the ashes"
    https://www.whiteman.af.mil/News/story/id/123375147/
  173. Hennigan, W. J., "The $105M resurrection of a B-2 stealth bomber", Los Angeles Times, 22 March 2014
  174. FlightGlobal
    http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-updates-firefighter-training-and-equipment-following-b-2-tailpipe-397472/
  175. "B-2 Spirit sitting wing down after landing mishap"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20220814204852/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42392/damaged-b-2-spirit-is-sitting-wing-down-off-the-runway-after-landing-mishap
  176. Stars and Stripes
    https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2022-03-18/decade-old-landing-gear-springs-led-to-b2-crash-landing-5386748.html
  177. United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps
    https://web.archive.org/web/20220317215755/https://www.afjag.af.mil/Portals/77/AIB-Reports/2021/AAIB%20Report%20-%20B-2%20Mishap%20TN%2089-0129%20-%20FINAL.pdf
  178. The Drive
    https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/runway-at-whiteman-afb-remains-closed-after-b-2-bomber-accident
  179. Business Insider
    https://www.businessinsider.com/b-2-stealth-bomber-damaged-emergency-landing-fire-crew-unharmed-2022-12
  180. CNN
    https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/21/politics/air-force-b2-bomber-grounded/index.html
  181. Air And Space Forces Magazine
    https://www.airandspaceforces.com/b-2-safety-pause-lifted-flights-resume/
  182. B-2 that caught fire in 2022 won’t be fixed, Air Force confirms. Defense One. 13 May 2024.
    https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2024/05/b-2-crashed-2022-wont-be-fixed-air-force-confirms/396519/
  183. "Factsheet: Northrop B-2 Spirit." Archived 29 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine National Museum of the United States
    http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=422
  184. "Cold War Gallery." Archived 15 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retri
    http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/exhibits/coldwar/index.asp
  185. Pace 1999, Appendix A
  186. Northrop Grumman
    https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/air/b-2-stealth-bomber/b-2-technical-details
  187. "The US Navy – Fact File: AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW)"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180402225505/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=2100&tid=300&ct=2
  188. "JASSM"
    http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/jassm.html
  189. "New Video Of B-2 Bomber Dropping Mother Of All Bunker Busters Sends Ominous Message"
    https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/28076/new-video-of-b-2-bomber-dropping-mother-of-all-bunker-busters-sends-ominous-message
  190. Pace 1999, Appendix
  191. "B-2." Archived 9 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine fas.org. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
    https://fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/b-2.htm
  192. All 21 copies brought to Block 30 standard.
  193. "Air Force names final B-2 bomber 'Spirit of America" Archived 9 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine. fas.org, 14 July 200
    https://fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/man-ac-b2-000714.htm
  194. "Old, weak landing gear springs led to a B-2's $10M skid off the runway"
    https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-air-force/2022/03/17/old-weak-landing-gear-springs-led-to-a-b-2s-10m-skid-off-the-runway/
  195. "Damaged B-2 Returns To Palmdale For Repairs A Year After Landing Mishap"
    https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/bandaged-b-2-bomber-returns-to-its-birth-place-for-major-repairs
  196. Air Force Times
    https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2022/12/12/b-2-stealth-bomber-damaged-in-emergency-landing-at-whiteman/
Image
Source: —
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.