B-2 Spirit.

Technical Data

• Design

  The B-2 Spirit employs a pure flying wing design, a configuration that significantly reduces radar visibility by eliminating vertical surfaces and other protrusions common to traditional aircraft layouts. This planform minimizes both radar and infrared signatures, essential for its role in penetrating sophisticated enemy air defenses. Constructed largely from carbon-fiber reinforced composite materials and layered radar-absorbent coatings, the airframe contributes to a radar cross-section (RCS) reportedly smaller than that of a small bird. The wingspan measures 52.4 meters, and the aircraft's overall length is 21 meters. The B-2 lacks a tail or fuselage extensions, with all systems, fuel tanks, bomb bays, and avionics housed within the wing itself. The crew compartment is located centrally and contains two side-by-side ejection seats for the pilot and mission commander, both of whom operate from a cockpit optimized for long-duration strategic missions. The airframe’s high aspect-ratio and internal volume also permit extended range and substantial payload capacity, while the aerodynamic shape provides excellent stability for high-subsonic cruise..

• Armament

  The B-2 Spirit is capable of carrying a versatile and formidable array of nuclear and conventional ordnance entirely within two internal weapons bays to preserve its low-observable profile. In nuclear configuration, the aircraft is certified to deploy the B61-11 tactical nuclear bomb and the B83 strategic bomb, both of which can be delivered with precision at high or low altitude. The B-2 is a key element of the U.S. strategic nuclear triad under START and New START treaties. For conventional strike missions, it can be configured to carry up to eighty 500-pound class GBU-38 JDAMs or sixteen 2,000-pound GBU-31 JDAMs, offering satellite-guided precision. Against deeply buried or fortified targets, the B-2 can carry the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 13,600 kg (30,000 lb) bomb designed to defeat underground bunkers, with a maximum of two MOPs per mission. Additionally, it can deploy conventional air-launched cruise missiles in some configurations. All munitions are carried internally on rotary launchers or bomb racks to ensure minimal radar exposure.

• Avionics and Combat Systems

  The B-2’s avionics suite is designed to enable deep penetration into heavily defended airspace under all weather and lighting conditions. The primary radar system is the AN/APQ-181 multi-mode radar, operating in synthetic aperture and ground-mapping modes. This radar allows for high-resolution target tracking and terrain-following flight while maintaining a low probability of intercept. Coupled with this is the Defensive Management System (DMS), which scans the electromagnetic spectrum for threats such as radar and missile guidance signals, enabling the B-2 to dynamically re-route in real-time to avoid detection. Navigation is maintained through a tightly integrated blend of GPS, astro-inertial guidance, and terrain correlation systems. Communications are facilitated through secure satellite datalinks, allowing strategic-level coordination. The onboard mission computer manages fire control, weapons release, threat tracking, and environmental systems, all coordinated through a fully digital fly-by-wire interface. The avionics have undergone multiple upgrades to enhance resistance to electronic warfare and cyber threats.

• Mobility

  Propulsion for the B-2 is provided by four General Electric F118-GE-100 turbofan engines, each producing 77 kN (17,300 lbf) of thrust. These engines are non-afterburning and were specifically selected for their reduced infrared signature and fuel efficiency. The engines are buried deep within the airframe, with serpentine-shaped air intakes lined with radar-absorbing material to shield the engine fans from radar exposure. Exhaust is diffused through flattened nozzles over the upper wing surface, reducing heat and infrared emissions. The aircraft operates at high subsonic speeds, with a maximum speed near Mach 0.95 (approximately 1,010 km/h or 628 mph) and a typical cruise speed around 900 km/h (560 mph). Its unrefueled range is about 11,100 km (6,900 miles), which can be extended indefinitely with aerial refueling via boom-equipped tankers like the KC-135 and KC-46.

• Combat Use

  The B-2 Spirit has seen operational deployment in multiple high-intensity and strategic conflict zones, beginning with its combat debut during Operation Allied Force in 1999 over Kosovo. In that campaign, B-2s flew round-trip missions from Whiteman Air Force Base to strike Serbian targets with precision-guided munitions, demonstrating their global strike capability. Subsequent operations include missions in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom), Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom), Libya (Operation Odyssey Dawn), and precision strikes against ISIS infrastructure in Syria and Iraq. The bomber’s ability to bypass heavily defended airspace and strike critical nodes with minimal warning has made it a centerpiece of U.S. long-range deterrence and rapid-response capabilities. It is routinely used to project power and reassure allies, especially in the Indo-Pacific region where it conducts strategic presence missions. Though only 20 B-2s remain in service following one operational loss, each aircraft continues to play a vital role in both nuclear deterrence and conventional power projection, pending the phased transition to the next-generation B-21 Raider.