B-52

B-2 Spirit

The development of the B-2 Spirit has become one of the giant leaps in aviation history. Developed by Northrop Grumman, the aircraft became known as one of the best-kept secrets in history. The B-2 Spirit has stealth capabilities that help it become invisible to enemy radar. The Bomber was also the first aircraft to use JDAM capabilities. It became successful in the war in Kosovo. Using its potential and proving itself as an advanced strategic bomber. The Spirit is a very expensive aircraft, one that has stirred controversy amongst politicians and the general public. This aircraft is the grandfather of technologically advanced aircraft that will soon fill the sky above us.

At the height of the Cold War, Northrop Grumman wanted to develop what was to be the most advanced bomber ever to be conceived by any country. The B-2 Spirit was first to be developed in order to replace the force of aging B-52 Stratofortresses that have been in service since the early 1950s. Along with the B-1 Lancer, a low level, supersonic, nuclear strike bomber; The B-2 was first thought out to be a challenge to the Russian Tu-60 Blackjack.

The B-2 Spirit was derived from Northrop's flying wing prototype of the mid forties. The flying wing design was ahead of its time, during the years of World War II, the axis and allies were racing to develop the best aircraft and Jack Northrop wanted to create something out of the ordinary, something that would revolutionize aviation as we knew it. In the late 1940s, Northrop developed a bomber version of the propeller flying wing, but control technology wasn't advanced enough so that program had to be halted.

The first B-2 was publicly displayed on November 22, 1988, when it was rolled out of its hangar at Air Force Plant 42, in Palmdale, California. Its first flight was July 17, 1989. It was a secret that had been kept for so long that it had the Soviet Union on the edge of their seats. The B-2s are held out of Whiteman AFB, Missouri. where it is the bomber's only operational base. Their first aircraft, Spirit of Missouri, was delivered December 17, 1993.

The B-2 Spirit bomber is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. A dramatic leap forward in technology, the B-2 bomber represents a major milestone in the U.S. bomber modernization program. The B-2 Spirit brings massive firepower to bear, in a short time, anywhere on the globe through previously impenetrable defenses.

The Spirit's stealth capabilities are nothing to mess around with. Its low detection is derived from a combination of reduced infrared, acoustic, electromagnetic, visual and radar signatures. These signatures make it difficult for the sophisticated defensive systems to detect, track and engage the B-2 bomber. Many aspects of the low detection process remain classified; however, the B-2's composite materials, special coatings and flying wing design all contribute to its unseen competence. Along with being able to become undetected, the bomber's engines are uniquely quiet. It's four 19,017 lb thrust is enough power to carry it into a mission within minutes.

It also has a service ceiling of over 40,000 ft. It has amazing range of almost 8,000 miles. The stealth bomber can deploy from Whiteman in Missouri and fly missions lasting over 30 hours and one mission of over 50 hours. The B-2 is highly automated, and unlike single-seat fighters, one crewmember can sleep, use a flush toilet or prepare a hot meal while the other monitors the aircraft. (Wikipedia 1). The aircraft has a unique shape and size. It has a wingspan of 172 feet and a height of 17 feet. It is 69 feet in length. The bomber has no 90 degree angles on its surface, enhancing its cloak of invisibility.

The bomber's weaponry is an important asset in making all of its features come to life. It was the first to use Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). It has GPS guided munitions as well. Its targeting system is very precise with the help of laser guided accuracy. It can bomb 16 targets in a single pass when equipped with 1000 or 2000 pound bombs, or as many as 80 when carrying 500-pound bombs.

The first time the B-2 saw combat was when it debuted in the war in Kosovo in 1999. During the war in Kosovo, the B-2s saw a wide range of combat that required extra long sorties. Sorties are bombing missions