Since the B-2 platform is one of two American nuclear-capable bombers, the return of the Spirit of Georgia is significant.
When the US Air Force B-2 “Spirit of Georgia” bomber was badly damaged in an incident back in 2021, its eventual return to service was never guaranteed. The B-2 bomber experienced a hydraulic failure at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri at the time, which ultimately led to its left wing scraping along the runway following the collapse of its gear. Despite the heavy damage inflicted on the bomber during this mishap, the service recently returned the B-2 to operational capacity.
Earlier this week, images of the Spirit of Georgia shared on the DVIDS network with accompanying text were published. Additionally, a press release by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) detailed the aircraft’s path to restoration, which occurred at manufacturer Northrop Grumman’s facility in Palmdale, California. The senior material leader overseeing the restoration process called the 509th Maintenance and B-2 System Program Office Engineering team’s response to the damage “critical.” Col. Jason Shirley added that “They quickly recovered the aircraft, using airbags to lift it enough to manually lock the main gear and tow it into the hangar. Damage assessments and Non-Destructive Inspections followed, revealing damage primarily concentrated around the left main landing gear bay and lower wing area.”
About the B-2 Spirit
- Year Introduced: 1997
- Number Built: 21 (19 still operational)
- Length: 69 ft (21.0 m)
- Wingspan: 172 ft (52.4 m)
- Weight (MTOW): ~336,500 lb (152,200 kg)
- Engines: Four General Electric F118-GE-100 turbofans (~17,300 lbf thrust each)
- Top Speed: ~630-650 mph (~1,010-1,045 km/h) / ~Mach 0.95
- Range: ~6,000 nmi (6,900 mi, 11,112 km) unrefueled (intercontinental with aerial refueling; global reach)
- Service Ceiling: ~50,000 ft (15,240 m)
- Loadout: Internal weapons bays; roughly ~40,000 lb (≈18,000 kg) of ordnance—nuclear and conventional mission sets (B61/B83 certified historically), precision-guided bombs (JDAM, SDB), and select standoff munitions depending on loadout
- Aircrew: Two (pilot and mission commander)
Since the B-2 platform is one of two American nuclear-capable bombers, the return of the Spirit of Georgia is significant. Over the summer, the United States launched a high-stakes air campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities. As part of Operation Midnight Hammer, B-2 “Spirit” bombers involved flew nonstop for 37 hours in the longest mission of its kind since 2001. Notably, 14 massive, 15-ton GBU-57 bunker buster bombers were used to “totally obliterate” the nuclear sites, according to President Donald J. Trump, although the strikes’ exact effectiveness has been contested by US intelligence reports. Based on the platform’s performance in this operation, it is clear that the United States will be relying on its Spirit fleet for years to come.
The B-2 is arguably the most recognizable aerial platform in the Air Force’s fleet. The bomber’s flying-wing design is made to deflect radio waves with large, flat, dark areas on the top and bottom of the aircraft, which gives the platform a futuristic edge. In addition to its impressive stealth, the Spirit’s range is perhaps the bomber’s greatest attribute. The bomber can virtually fly to any location across the globe within a matter of hours. The platform’s ability to fly all-altitude attack missions makes it a vital component of the Air Force’s aerial strategy.
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 over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues. Carlin has bylines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.
Image: Shutterstock.com / Magic Beanz Studio
