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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 name="Airforce tech">{{cite web|url=http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/b2/|work=airforce-technology.com|language=English|title=B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber, USA|accessdate=2007-08-20}}</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 name="Airforce tech" /><ref name="Howstuff">{{cite web|url=http://science.howstuffworks.com/stealth-bomber.htm|title=How Stealth Bombers Work|work=HowStuffWorks|author=Tom Harris|language=English|accessdate=2007-08-20}}</ref> It holds two separate weapons bays, both of which are equipped with a rotary launcher, and two bomb-rack assemblies.<ref name="Airforce tech" /> An assessment published by the USAF showed that two B-2s armed with precision weaponry can do the job of 75 conventional aircraft.<ref name="Airforce tech" />
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 name="Airforce tech">{{cite web|url=http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/b2/|work=airforce-technology.com|language=English|title=B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber, USA|accessdate=2007-08-20}}</ref> The B-2 can also carry up to 40,000lb of what by [[NATO]] standards are the most technologically advanced weapons, including, conventional and nuclear weapons, precision-guided munitions, gravity bombs, a range of maritime weapons, and even nuclear bombs.<ref name="Airforce tech" /><ref name="Howstuff">{{cite web|url=http://science.howstuffworks.com/stealth-bomber.htm|title=How Stealth Bombers Work|work=HowStuffWorks|author=Tom Harris|language=English|accessdate=2007-08-20}}</ref> It holds two separate weapons bays, both of which are equipped with a rotary launcher, and two bomb-rack assemblies.<ref name="Airforce tech" /> An assessment published by the USAF showed that two B-2s armed with precision weaponry can do the job of 75 conventional aircraft.<ref name="Airforce tech" />
Originally 132 were to be built, but rising costs (a near certainty in military programs) caused the program to be cut to a mere 21. Twenty are still in operation (one was lost in a 2008 crash), of which 19 are located in [[Missouri]] and the 20th at Edwards Air Force Base in [[California]] which serves as a flight test vehicle. All 21 were given the name "Spirit of" followed by a state name (except the 1st, named Spirit of America, and the 19th which was named Spirit of Kitty Hawk), "Kansas" was the one lost in the crash.
==Mission==
==Mission==
==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>{{cite web|url=http://www.dau.mil/pubs/arq/2001arq/Baker.pdf|title=Clipped Wings: The Death of Jack Northrop's Flying Wing Bombers|author=Dr. Bud Baker|format=PDF|language=English|accessdate=2007-08-20}}</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 name="Centennial">{{cite web|url=http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Aerospace/Northrop/Aero40.htm|title=Jack Northrop and the Northrop Corporation|work=U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission|author=Judy Rumerman|accessdate=2007-08-20|language=English}}</ref> The plane became fully operational in December 2003.<ref name="Howstuff" />
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>{{cite web|url=http://www.dau.mil/pubs/arq/2001arq/Baker.pdf|title=Clipped Wings: The Death of Jack Northrop's Flying Wing Bombers|author=Dr. Bud Baker|format=PDF|language=English|accessdate=2007-08-20}}</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 name="Centennial">{{cite web|url=http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Aerospace/Northrop/Aero40.htm|title=Jack Northrop and the Northrop Corporation|work=U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission|author=Judy Rumerman|accessdate=2007-08-20|language=English}}</ref> The plane became fully operational in December 2003.<ref name="Howstuff" />
On December 10, 2022 an unarmed B-2 Spirit malfunctioned in flight, made an emergency landing at Whiteman Air Force Base in [[Missouri]], and then caught fire on the runway.<ref>https://www.whiteman.af.mil/News/Article/3252068/update-b-2-spirit-damaged-after-emergency-landing-on-wafb-runway/</ref> The entire fleet was grounded after the incident.
== Facts ==
== Facts ==
[[Image:Bomberb-2.jpg|250px|thumb|right|B-2 Spirit flies over the St. Louis Arch]]
[[Image:Bomberb-2.jpg|250px|thumb|right|B-2 Spirit flies over the St. Louis Arch]]
* [[Strategic Air Command]]
* [[Strategic Air Command]]
* [[War]]
* [[War]]
*[[S-300]]
== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.af.mil/tv/index.asp?showid=121 B-2 SPIRIT Video]
* [http://www.af.mil/tv/index.asp?showid=121 B-2 SPIRIT Video]
*[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,332038,00.html B-2 Stealth Bomber Crashes in Guam; Pilots Eject Safely], ''[[Fox News Channel|Fox News]]'', February 23, 2008
*[https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,332038,00.html B-2 Stealth Bomber Crashes in Guam; Pilots Eject Safely], ''[[Fox News Channel|Fox News]]'', February 23, 2008
*[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,364185,00.html Video of B-2 Bomber Crash Released With Investigation Findings], ''[[Fox News Channel|Fox News]]'', June 6, 2008
*[https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,364185,00.html Video of B-2 Bomber Crash Released With Investigation Findings], ''[[Fox News Channel|Fox News]]'', June 6, 2008
[[Category:Military Aircraft]]
[[Category:Military Aircraft]]
[[Category:United States Air Force]]
[[Category:United States Air Force]]