The Northrop Grumman B-2 heavy strategic bomber symbolizes firepower in every way.
When US president Donald J. Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin met for a summit in Alaska earlier this month, an American-made B-2 bomber flew overhead. The impressive flyover, which occurred at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, also included F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. While it is not clear who ordered the formidable flyover, the B-2 is specifically considered to represent US power. The stealth bomber series is capable of flying nonstop to virtually any point across the globe, all while carrying a variety of conventional and nuclear munitions. The high-stakes summit between Trump and Putin was intended to progress a potential ceasefire agreement in Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
The B-2 “Spirit”
The Northrop Grumman B-2 heavy strategic bomber symbolizes firepower in every way. Designated as the “Spirit,” the stealth platform has remained a cornerstone of the Air Force’s bomber fleet for nearly three decades. The B-2 was conceptualized during the Cold War, when engineers had discovered a new method to avoid detection. Specifically, the service wanted to construct an aircraft able to deflect or absorb radar signals altogether so that adversarial systems could not locate it. Eventually, Northrop and competitor McDonnell Douglas were selected to build prototypes to match this new vision. The Advanced Technology Bomber program was initiated in 1979 under the code name “Aurora.” Ultimately, Northrop’s “Senior Ice” proposal was selected as the winner.
The resulting B-2 Spirit is impressive in every sense of the word. In terms of range, the stealth bomber can fly nonstop across the world within a matter of hours. The B-2’s infamous flying wing design makes it look futuristic and also allows the bomber to fly undetected by virtually all radar. In addition to its design, the B-2’s stealth also comes from minimized electromagnetic, acoustic, visual, infrared, and radar signatures. When it comes to armament power, the B-2 is essentially unmatched. The platform can lug up to 40,000 pounds of weaponry within two separate weapons bays positioned in its center. From conventional and nuclear weapons alike, the B-2 can carry a wide range of munitions.
Operation Midnight Hammer
The B-2 made headlines for its role in the US-led high-stakes air campaign against Iran earlier this summer. A fleet of Spirits flew nonstop for 37 hours in what would become the platform’s longest mission since 2001. The B-2s, along with other aerial assets, took part in the campaign that targeted nuclear facilities across Iran. In total, roughly 75 precision-guided weapons were used by a contingent of aircraft and a guided missile submarine as part of the mission. Notably, Operation Midnight Hammer marked the first time the US military deployed its massive, 15-ton GBU-57 bunker buster bombs in combat.
While the Air Force is currently developing its next-generation B-21 “Raider” series, the Spirit bombers will remain critical players in the service’s bomber fleet for years to come.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has bylines in many publications, including The National Interest, The Jerusalem Post, and The Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.
Image: DVIDS.
