America’s ‘stealth’ attacker that struck Iran’s ‘nuclear mountain’
Although it is older than 40 years of age, the eerie bat-like form of the B-2 hidden bombardment plane continues to be the most powerful symbol of American military power.
At the moment, the US fleet is the only bombardment aircraft that can leave the Great GBU-57 Bunker-Bust Bomb, where analysts say it is the only traditional weapon that can destroy Iran’s underground Fordow nuclear facility from the air.
President Donald Trump confirmed that on Sunday, the United States hit Fordow with a “complete bomb load” with the other two sites in Natanz and Isfahan. “All aircraft are returning home safely,” he added.
B-2 Washington spirit came to 88-0332 PalmdaleCredit: Northrop GRUMMAN
Since its introduction in the late 1990s, B-2 has become the backbone of the US strategic bomber fleet. Recently, in October 2024, a few B-2, a Raaf base in North Australia, as a staging area to strike the Houthi militants in Yemen, including hardened weapons storage facilities.
In 2001, B-2 holds the record of the longest air combat at the date when a plane called America came out of the Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and flew to Afghanistan with the other five B-2 in a 44-hour mission. He then returned to Missouri on a 30 -hour flight to hit more than 70 hours, including a fast pit stop for a 45 -minute crew and a change of service with still working engines.
The manufacturer Northrop Grumman describes B-2 as one of the most survival planes in the world ”and the only one who combines a long-range, hidden and heavy burden. For the air team that blows mammoth tasks, more practically, the cabin has a bed, a microwave oven and toilet.
The B-2 started as a secret “black” project in the 1970s to produce a bombardment aircraft that could fly deep into the Soviet Union, which was not detected by air defense using a pioneer, radar disabled design.
The original plan was to build 165 B-2, but when the Cold War ended in the late 1980s, it was scaled up to only 21 aircraft that only 19 were in service.
A USA B-2 descends to the Raaf Base in Darwin.Credit: Glenn campbell
Despite this decrease, the entire program costs about 2 billion US dollars ($ 3.09 billion) per airplane. In 1996, the B-2 was estimated by US government auditors as the most expensive bombardment aircraft operating per airplane up to three times the B-1 bombardment aircraft and four times the senior B-52.
Some of these costs go to maintenance. B-2 is a sensitive creature that can contain a 52-meter wing opening and requires special care, including air-conditioned hangars, which are required to keep radar suctionable “low observable” skin.
The maintenance of each plane reports more than $ 3 million per month.
B-2 made its first release in 1988 and the first production plane called Missouri Spirit was delivered to the US Air Force in 1993.
The first war mission came to Kosovo at the Mission of the Allied Operation Operation Mission in 1999. Two B-2 flew from Missouri to Kosovo for more than 31 hours, where he attacked more than one target, then flew back directly.
B-2’s performance in Europe soon became famous as a highly effective war weapon. Northrop Grumman said that the secret bombardment plane flew less than 1 percent of the total tasks, but 33 percent of the targets destroyed in the first eight weeks of the Kosovo conflict.
B-2 bombardment plane on the flight.Credit: Northrop GRUMMAN
After Kosovo and Afghanistan, the B-2s then took action at the Iraqi Freedom Operation and two times in Libya to support Odyssey Dawn Operation and Odyssey Lightning Operation.
Early B-2s were given names by air teams such as “Shady Lady”, “Black Widow” and “Deadly Beauty”, but these are now more pros and “spirit …”.
However, when Hollywood needs a “super bombardment aircraft, to fight with a giant monster or an alien invasion, the star power always guarantees the best billing as one of the world’s most prominent aircraft in the world. Between Film Loans Independence Day– ARMAGEDDON– Iron Man 2, Cloverfield And the last, Captain Marvel.
While the B-2 continues to be upgraded and developed by Northrop Grumman, the days of active service seem to be numbered. The more modern, but slightly smaller B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber will take its place on the façade from 2032 onwards.
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