B-2 Spirit

The U.S. Air Force's nuclear-capable, flying-wing stealth heavy bomber — the world's only operational stealth bomber, sole carrier of the 30,000-lb GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator, and the penetrating-strike backbone of Air Force Global Strike Command.

Overview

The Northrop B-2 Spirit is a subsonic, low-observable strategic bomber fielded by the United States Air Force. Designed to slip past the most advanced integrated air-defense systems, it delivers both conventional and nuclear ordnance against hardened, high-value targets directly from the continental United States. After Cold War ambitions for 132 aircraft were slashed, 21 airframes were built; 19 remain in service, all operated by the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. The B-2 is the only aircraft cleared to employ the 30,000-lb GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), and its demonstrated ability to fly 37-hour non-stop combat missions—most notably during Operation Midnight Hammer against Iran’s nuclear complexes—cements its irreplaceable position ahead of the incoming B-21 Raider fleet.

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