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[[Image:Stealth-bomber.jpg|250px|thumb|right|B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber]]  

[[Image:Stealth-bomber.jpg|250px|thumb|right|B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber]]  

The '''B-2 Spirit''' ("Stealth bomber") is an advanced, [[stealth]] aircraft developed by [[Northrop Grumman]]. The B-2 Spirit bomber has many benefits over other military bombers. Its main advantages are its, low-observable, strategic, long-range, and heavy bomber capable of penetrating sophisticated and dense air-defense shields.<ref>http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/b2/</ref> The B-2 can also carry up to 40,000lb of the most technological advanced weapons, including, conventional and nuclear weapons, precision-guided munitions, gravity bombs, a range of maritime weapons, and even nuclear bombs.<ref>http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/b2/</ref><ref>http://science.howstuffworks.com/stealth-bomber.htm</ref> It holds two separate weapons bays, both of which are equipped with a rotary launcher, and two bomb-rack assemblies.<ref> http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/b2/</ref> An assessment published by the USAF showed that two B-2s armed with precision weaponry can do the job of 75 conventional aircraft.<ref> http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/b2/</ref>  

The B-2 Spirit ("Stealth bomber") is an advanced, [[stealth]] aircraft developed by [[Northrop Grumman]]. The B-2 Spirit bomber has many benefits over other military bombers. Its main advantages are its, low-observable, strategic, long-range, and heavy bomber capable of penetrating sophisticated and dense air-defense shields.<ref>http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/b2/</ref> The B-2 can also carry up to 40,000lb of the most technological advanced weapons, including,conventional and nuclear weapons, precision-guided munitions, gravity bombs, a range of maritime weapons, and even nuclear bombs.<ref>http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/b2/</ref><ref>http://science.howstuffworks.com/stealth-bomber.htm</ref> It holds two separate weapons bays, both of which are equipped with a rotary launcher, and two bomb-rack assemblies.<ref> http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/b2/</ref> An assessment published by the USAF showed that two B-2s armed with precision weaponry can do the job of 75 conventional aircraft.<ref> http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/b2/</ref>  

 

 

==History==

==History==

 

Much of the design for the B-2 Spirit came from [[Jack Northrop]], the founder of what is now known as Northrup Grumman. In 1946 the United States military looked for a bomber to replace the aging, [[B-52]] bomber. They wanted a plane that was more advanced and one with  better range. The military awarded Jack Northrop with a 88 million contract to build a new bomber. Northrop began working on an idea for a plane which he called the "[[Flying Wing]]". But in 1947, the Air Force mysteriously ended his contract, and the project ended.<ref>http://www.dau.mil/pubs/arq/2001arq/Baker.pdf</ref> The [[United StatesAir Force]] restarted it quest for a better bomber in 1970. In 1981, the first B-2 bomber was built. The new 172-foot wide flying wing was very similar to Jack Northrop's design, and much of the plane is attributed to him.<ref>http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Aerospace/Northrop/Aero40.htm</ref> The plane became fully operational in December 2003.<ref> http://science.howstuffworks.com/stealth-bomber.htm</ref>

Much of the design for the B-2 Spirit came from [[Jack Northrop]], the founder of what is now known as Northrup Grumman. In 1946 the United States military looked for a bomber to replace the aging, [[B-52]] bomber. They wanted a plane that was more advanced and one with  better range. The military awarded Jack Northrop with a 88 million contract to build a new bomber. Northrop began working on an idea for a plane which he called the "[[Flying Wing]]". But in 1947, the Air Force mysteriously ended his contract, and the project ended.<ref>http://www.dau.mil/pubs/arq/2001arq/Baker.pdf</ref> The [[United States Air Force]] restarted it quest for a better bomber in 1970. In 1981, the first B-2 bomber was built. The new 172-foot wide flying wing was very similar to Jack Northrop's design, and much of the plane is attributed to him.<ref>http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Aerospace/Northrop/Aero40.htm</ref> The plane became fully operational in December 2003.<ref> http://science.howstuffworks.com/stealth-bomber.htm</ref>

 

 

== Facts ==

== Facts ==

[[Image:Bomberb-2.jpg‎ |200px|thumb|right|B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber]]  

[[Image:Bomberb-2.jpg‎ |200px|thumb|right|B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber]]  

*The B-2 was deployed for the first time during Operation Iraqi Freedom in March / April 2003. <ref> http://science.howstuffworks.com/stealth-bomber.htm</ref>

*The B-2 was deployed for the first time during Operation Iraqi Freedom in March / April 2003. <ref> http://science.howstuffworks.com/stealth-bomber.htm</ref>

* The B-2 Bomber is the largest stealth aircraft used by the  military

* The B-2 Bomber is the largest stealth aircraft used by the  military

===References===

==References==

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[[Category:Airplanes]]

[[Category:Airplanes]]