|
Entered service |
1993 |
|
Crew |
2-3 men |
|
Dimensions and weight |
|
Length |
21.03 m |
|
Wing span |
52.43
m |
|
Height |
5.18
m |
|
Weight (empty) |
69.7 t |
|
Weight (maximum take off) |
152.6 t |
|
Engines and performance |
|
Engines |
4 x General Electric F118-GE-100 turbofans |
|
Traction |
4 x 84.52 kN |
|
Maximum speed |
764 km/h |
|
Ferry range |
12 223 km |
|
Combat endurance |
over 36 hours |
|
Armament |
|
Missiles |
16 x AGM-129, JASSM cruise missiles |
|
Bombs |
16 x B61 or 16 x B83 thermonuclear free-fall
bombs.
Can also carry BLU-109/A Penetrators, GBU-32, GAM-84 and GAM-113 GPS guided
bombs. AGM-154C JSOW guided weapons |
|
The black, bat-like B-2A
Spirit is the silver bullet of US policy, reserved for use against
targets of the highest priority.
The B-2 is the costliest warplane
ever built (around $900 million per copy), is difficult to maintain
and is prone to trouble with the coating that provides much of its
stealth.
The B-2 Spirit was developed as a low observable strategic
bomber for the Cold War mission of attacking Soviet strategic
targets. Composites are extensively used to provide a
radar-absorbent honeycomb structure; the bomber has a minimal IR
signature, does not contrail and uses its shielded APQ-181 radar
only momentarily to identify a target just before attacking. The
glass cockpit is usually flown by a crew of two. The aircraft has a quadruplex-redundant digital fly-by-wire system and highly advanced,
classified electronic warfare system.
Six prototypes were funded and the first was
rolled out on 22 November 1988. The B-2's first flight took place on
17 July 1991 the USAF implemented a set of treatments to rectify a
shortfall in the B-2A's stealth capabilities.
The USAF had
originally wanted 132 aircraft, but funding restrictions have seen
the fleet completed with just 21 aircraft. The last of these was
delivered on 14 July 2000 and is the AV-1 prototype upgraded to
Block 30 standard. The first operational B-2A was delivered to the
509th Bomb Wing on 17 December 1993 and full initial operating
capability came in April 1997.
Having progressed through the Block 10 and 20 standards of stealth,
systems and weapons capability, the entire B-2A fleet will be
brought to Block 30 standard with full weapons and stealth
capabilities. The B-2A made its combat debut over Kosovo in 1999,
employing the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and other weapons
to great effect. Although the USAF's B-2 force is garrisoned at
Whiteman air force base, Missouri, the service has ambitious plans to operate
the aircraft temporarily from forward bases like Guam and Diego
Garcia.
|
Video of the B-2 Spirit stealthy
strategic bomber |
|
|
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