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US Air Force maintains fleet of aging but potent B-2 bombers

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US Air Force maintains fleet of aging but potent B-2 bombers
Policy
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President Jimmy Carter | Wikipedia

There are few weapons systems as formidable as the B-2 Spirit bomber, a long-range heavy strategic aircraft designed to penetrate enemy defenses using stealth technology. This platform is among the deadliest operated by the United States Air Force and is noted for being the most expensive aircraft ever developed. The B-2 Spirit plays a crucial role in the Air Force's global strike capabilities.

The Northrop-built B-2 can deliver both conventional and nuclear munitions, showcasing its versatility. Manufactured between 1989 and 2000, it entered operational service on January 1, 1997. Despite its age, it remains one of the most capable penetrating bombers globally.

The B-2 Spirit is part of a trio of operational strategic bombers in service with the U.S. Air Force, alongside Boeing's B-52 Stratofortress and Rockwell's B-1 Lancer. While each has unique capabilities, the B-2 stands out for its stealth and payload versatility.

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Known colloquially as the Stealth Bomber, the Northrop B-2 Spirit was designed for deep penetration missions into heavily defended airspace. It features advanced stealth technology and can carry up to eighty 500-pound GPS-guided JDAM bombs or sixteen 2,400-pound B83 nuclear warheads.

Development began in the 1970s under President Jimmy Carter's administration through the Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB) program that prioritized stealth. The program faced delays and cost overruns, resulting in only 21 aircraft being built at an average acquisition cost of $737 million each. Support costs increased this figure to over $4 billion per plane. Budget constraints reduced plans from more than 130 aircraft to just 21.

Specifications include a maximum takeoff weight of 376,000 pounds, a maximum speed of 630 miles per hour, and a service ceiling of 50,000 feet. The B-2 can fly approximately 6,000 nautical miles without aerial refueling support and has been used extensively for conventional strikes across Europe and the Middle East since entering service in 1997.

As of now, only 19 operational B-2 bombers remain after two were removed following crashes—the AV-12 Spirit of Kansas in 2008 and AV-16 Spirit of Hawaii fourteen years later. Another aircraft is undergoing repairs after an incident in which its landing gear collapsed.

The fleet will be retired by 2032 when it will be replaced by the new B-21 Raider model.

Organizations Included in this History
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