The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a multi-role stealth bomber able to drop conventional and nuclear weapons. The bomber development was a milestone in the bomber modernization program of the U.S. Department of Defense.
The B-2's stealth technology is intended to help the craft penetrate defenses previously impenetrable by combat aircraft. The original procurement of 135 aircraft was later reduced to 75 in the late 1980s. In his 1992 State of the Union address, President George H. W. Bush announced total B-2 production would be limited to 20 aircraft (later increased to 21 by refurbishing a test aircraft).[1] This reduction was largely a result of the disintegration of the Soviet Union, which effectively rendered void the Spirit's primary mission.
The B-2 is one of the most expensive planes ever built: estimates for the costs per plane range from 1.157 billion[2] to 2.2 billion US dollars.[3] By comparison, a Nimitz class aircraft carrier costs $4.5 billion. However, quoted cost figures are highly inflated by the inclusion of the aircraft's enormous development cost and infrastructure development costs in the unit price; published estimates have shown the unit "production" cost for the aircraft alone is approximately $150 million per aircraft.
Specifications (B-2A Block 30)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 69 ft (20.9 m)
- Wingspan: 172 ft (52.12 m)
- Height: 17 ft (5.1 m)
- Wing area: 5,000 ft² (460 m²)
- Empty weight: 158,000 lb (71,700 kg)
- Loaded weight: 336,500 lb (152,600 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 376,000 lb (171,000 kg)
- Powerplant: 4× General Electric F118-GE-100 turbofans, 17,300 lbf (77 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 410 knots (475 mph, 764 km/h)
- Range: 6,500 mi (5,600 nm, 10,400 km)
- Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
- Wing loading: 67.3 lb/ft² (329 kg/m²)
- Thrust/weight: 0.205
Armament
- 40,000 lb (18,000 kg) of Bomb Rack Assembly mounted 500 lb class bombs (Mk82) (total carriage quantity: 80)
- 27,000 lb (12,000 kg) of BRA mounted 750 lb CBU class bombs (total carriage quantity: 36)
- 16 Rotary Launcher Assembly (RLA) mounted 2000 lb class weapons (Mk84, JDAM-84, JDAM-102)
- 16 RLA mounted B61 or B83 nuclear weapons
Later avionics and equipment improvements allow B-2A to carry JSOW and GBU-28s as well. The Spirit is also designated as a delivery aircraft for the AGM-158 JASSM when the missile enters service.
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