[103] The original design had tanks for a contrail-inhibiting chemical, but this was replaced in production aircraft by a contrail sensor that alerts the crew when they should change altitude. [155] The exhibit features Spirit of Ohio's nose wheel door, with its Fire and Ice artwork, which was painted and signed by the technicians who performed the temperature testing. Other sorties in Iraq have launched from Whiteman AFB. [58] As of 2011, the AGM-158 JASSM cruise missile is an upcoming standoff munition to be deployed on the B-2 and other platforms. "Inside the stealth bomber". [103] The original design had tanks for a contrail-inhibiting chemical, but this was replaced in production aircraft by a contrail sensor that alerts the crew when they should change altitude. [8], In 1974, DARPA requested information from U.S. aviation firms about the largest radar cross-section of an aircraft that would remain effectively invisible to radars. Although the bombers accounted 50 sorties out of a total of 34,000 NATO sorties, they dropped 11 percent of all bombs. GAO/NSIAD-95-164. [67] Each aircraft has a crew of two, a pilot in the left seat and mission commander in the right,[7] and has provisions for a third crew member if needed. The evaluation also noted that the Defensive Avionics suite had shortcomings with "pop-up threats". ", "Libya military operation: Who should command? [123] The B-2 reached initial operational capability (IOC) on 1 January 1997. ", "Northrop Grumman Applies New Coating to Operational B-2.". B-2 Spirit Bombers taxi, takeoff and land at Nellis Air Force Base, NV on December 3, 2018. Beck has yet to conduct a long-endurance flight in the B-2 Spirit, the stealth bomber produced by Northrop Grumman and introduced to the U.S. Air Force’s inventory in 1997. [62] The Common Very Low Frequency Receiver upgrade will allow the B-2s to use the same very low frequency transmissions as the Ohio-class submarines so as to continue in the nuclear mission until the Mobile User Objective System is fielded. [112] The B-2 is composed of many curved and rounded surfaces across its exposed airframe to deflect radar beams. This includes development, procurement, facilities, construction, and spare parts. The cost to procure each B-2 was US$737 million in 1997 dollars, based only on a fleet cost of US$15.48 billion. Also, the crew is trained to deal with the rigors of a 40-hour mission. [60] In 2012 projections, it was estimated that the Next-Generation Bomber would have an overall cost of $55 billion. For battlefield communications, both Link-16 and a high frequency satellite link have been installed, compatibility with various new munitions has been undertaken, and the AN/APQ-181 radar's operational frequency was shifted in order to avoid interference with other operators' equipment. [19] The Air Force originally planned to procure 165 of the ATB bomber. The B-2s together dropped 108 500-pound precision-guided Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bombs. Both crew members successfully ejected, but the aircraft was destroyed. The B-1 averaged a 53.7% ready rate, the B-2 Spirit achieved 30.3%, while the B-52 averaged 80.5%. [7] The Pentagon's Operational Test and Evaluation 2003 Annual Report noted that the B-2's serviceability for Fiscal Year 2003 was still inadequate, mainly due to the maintainability of the B-2's low observable coatings. ", "Program office brings home 'wounded warrior'. In February 2010, another serious incident involving a B-2 occurred at Andersen Air Force Base. The two person crew ejected safely from the aircraft and survived the crash. [16] The Northrop proposal was code named "Senior Ice" and the Lockheed proposal code named "Senior Peg". In February 2010, another serious incident involving a B-2 occurred at Andersen Air Force Base. The majority of the B-2 is made out of a carbon-graphite composite material that is stronger than steel, lighter than aluminum, and absorbs a significant amount of radar energy. [1], The Northrop team's ATB design was selected over the Lockheed/Rockwell design on 20 October 1981. [67], To reduce optical visibility during daylight flights, the B-2 is painted in an anti-reflective paint. [99] The flight actuation system incorporates both hydraulic and electrical servoactuated components, and it was designed with a high level of redundancy and fault-diagnostic capabilities. ", "Libya military operation: Who should command? B-2 test article (s/n AT-1000), the second of two built without engines or instruments for static testing, was placed on display in 2004 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton, Ohio. [92], For safety and fault-detection purposes, an on-board test system is linked with the majority of avionics on the B-2 to continuously monitor the performance and status of thousands of components and consumables; it also provides post-mission servicing instructions for ground crews. [81][118] In early 2004, Northrop Grumman began applying a newly developed AHFM to operational B-2s. [38], The total "military construction" cost related to the program was projected to be US$553.6 million in 1997 dollars. Both during development and in service, considerable effort has been devoted to maintaining the security of the B-2's design and technologies. Northrop and Lockheed were awarded contracts in the first round of testing. "More Stealth Bombers Mean Less Combat Power". [139] There were also concerns an airstrike would make it difficult to positively identify Bin Laden's remains and so confirming his death would be difficult. [134][135], In March 2011, B-2s were the first U.S. aircraft into action in Operation Odyssey Dawn, the UN mandated enforcement of the Libyan no-fly zone. Although the bombers accounted 50 sorties out of a total of 34,000 NATO sorties, they dropped 11 percent of all bombs. [76] Innovations such as alternate high frequency material (AHFM) and automated material application methods were also incorporated to improve the aircraft's radar-absorbent properties and reduce maintenance requirements. [41] Dellums and Kasich, in particular, worked together from 1989 through the early 1990s to limit production to 21 aircraft, and were ultimately successful. This page was last edited on 16 January 2021, at 17:55. Low observability provides a greater freedom of action at high altitudes, thus increasing both range and field of view for onboard sensors. In 1996, the General Accounting Office (GAO) disclosed that the USAF's B-2 bombers "will be, by far, the most costly bombers to operate on a per aircraft basis", costing over three times as much as the B-1B (US$9.6 million annually) and over four times as much as the B-52H (US$6.8 million annually). Apr 28, 2016 - Explore Candy's board "B-2 Stealth Bomber" on Pinterest. [97] Due to the B-2's composite structure, it is required to stay 40 miles (64 km) away from thunderstorms, to avoid static discharge and lightning strikes. [24], For the manufacturing, a former Ford automobile assembly plant in Pico Rivera, California, was acquired and heavily rebuilt; the plant's employees were sworn to complete secrecy regarding their work. [47], Some B-2 advocates argued that procuring twenty additional aircraft would save money because B-2s would be able to deeply penetrate anti-aircraft defenses and use low-cost, short-range attack weapons rather than expensive standoff weapons. "US to add one B-2 plane to 20 plane fleet. Dawson, T.W.G., G.F. [6], The B-2 is capable of all-altitude attack missions up to 50,000 feet (15,000 m), with a range of more than 6,000 nautical miles (6,900 mi; 11,000 km) on internal fuel and over 10,000 nautical miles (12,000 mi; 19,000 km) with one midair refueling. This includes development, procurement, facilities, construction, and spare parts. Designed during the Cold War, it is a flying wing design with a crew of two. [67] "Forward operating locations" have been previously designated as Andersen Air Force Base in Guam and RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom, where new climate controlled hangars have been constructed. The winding-down of the Cold War in the latter portion of the 1980s dramatically reduced the need for the aircraft, which was designed with the intention of penetrating Soviet airspace and attacking high-value targets. [4], The total program cost projected through 2004 was US$44.75 billion in 1997 dollars. The aircraft involved was AV-11 Spirit of Washington. [65][68] The B-2 bears a resemblance to earlier Northrop aircraft; the YB-35 and YB-49 were both flying wing bombers that had been canceled in development in the early 1950s,[69] allegedly for political reasons. [37] However a subsequent report in October 1996 noted that the Air Force had made some progress in resolving the issues with the radar via software fixes and hoped to have these fixes undergoing tests by the spring of 1997. The majority of the B-2 is made out of a carbon-graphite composite material that is stronger than steel, lighter than aluminum, and absorbs a significant amount of radar energy. Kenagy, David N., Christopher T. Bird, Christopher M. Webber and Joseph R. Fischer. Join Date: Feb 2019. This page was last edited on 16 January 2021, at 17:55. [14] An estimated US$23 billion was secretly spent for research and development on the B-2 by 1989. [53] Changing the radar's frequency was required as the United States Department of Commerce had sold that radio spectrum to another operator. New images will be taken and uploaded as time and resources allow. "Defense worker loses job over his ties to India". "More Stealth Bombers Mean Less Combat Power". [65] It has significant advantages over previous bombers due to its blend of low-observable technologies with high aerodynamic efficiency and large payload. [75] For comparison, the B-1B has a crew of four and the B-52 has a crew of five. [91] Engine thrust became a key element of the B-2's aerodynamic design process early on; thrust not only affects drag and lift but pitching and rolling motions as well. The decision to retire the B-2 early was made because the small fleet of 20 is considered too expensive per plane to retain, with its position as a stealth bomber being taken over with the introduction of the B-21 Raider starting in the mid-2020s. Extensive sleep cycle and fatigue research was conducted to improve crew performance on long sorties. ", "Program office brings home 'wounded warrior'. ", "US Air Force combat fleet's true operational costs revealed", "Key Senate Backer of Stealth Bomber Sees It in Jeopardy. Opposition in committee and in Congress was mostly broad and bipartisan, with Congressmen Ron Dellums (D-CA), John Kasich (R-OH), and John G. Rowland (R-CT) authorizing the motion to end the project—as well as others in the Senate, including Jim Exon (D-NE) and John McCain (R-AZ) also opposing the project. "Northrop B-2 Spirit". [96] The B-2 lacks afterburners as the hot exhaust would increase the infrared signature; breaking the sound barrier would produce an obvious sonic boom as well as aerodynamic heating of the aircraft skin which would also increase the infrared signature. We're ensuring that it remains fully mission capable against evolving worldwide threats. [7][66] At cruising altitude, the B-2 refuels every six hours, taking on up to 50 short tons (45,000 kg) of fuel at a time. "Inside the stealth bomber". According to the Stefan–Boltzmann law, this results in less energy (thermal radiation in the infrared spectrum) being released and thus a reduced heat signature. A number of upgrade packages have been applied to the B-2. ", "B-2 radar modernization program contract awarded. ", "Flight Control Actuation System Integrator for the B-2 Spirit. Eden, Paul. Kitchen and G.B. Though designed originally as primarily a nuclear bomber, the B-2 was first used in combat dropping conventional, non-nuclear ordnance in the Kosovo War in 1999. The F-117 used flat surfaces (faceting technique) for controlling radar returns as during its development (see Lockheed Have Blue) in the early 1970s, technology only allowed for the simulation of radar reflections on simple, flat surfaces; computing advances in the 1980s made it possible to simulate radar returns on more complex curved surfaces. ", "How Russia Could Someday Shootdown an F-22, F-35 or B-2 Stealth Bomber", "VI - STEALTH AIRCRAFT: EAGLES AMONG SPARROWS? The Northrop (later Northrop Grumman) B-2 Spirit, also known as the Stealth Bomber, is an American heavy strategic bomber, featuring low observable stealth technology designed for penetrating dense anti-aircraft defenses. North Branch, Minnesota: Zenith Imprint, 2003. B-2 test article (s/n AT-1000), the second of two built without engines or instruments for static testing, was placed on display in 2004 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton, Ohio. [54] In July 2009, it was reported that the B-2 had successfully passed a major USAF audit. Tensions between North and South Korea were high; after the exercise North Korea protested against the participation of the B-2s and made threats of retaliatory nuclear strikes against South Korea and the United States. [155] The restored test aircraft is on display in the museum's "Cold War Gallery". [73][74], Approximately 80 pilots fly the B-2. This stealth comes from a combination of reduced acoustic, infrared, visual and radar signatures (multi-spectral camouflage) to evade the various detection systems that could be used to detect and be used to direct attacks against an aircraft. [26] Cavanaugh was eventually sentenced to life in prison and released on parole in 2001. Dawson, T.W.G., G.F. Crickmore, Paul and Alison J. Crickmore, "Nighthawk F-117 Stealth Fighter". Zenith Imprint, 1999. [100], Northrop had investigated several means of applying directional control that would infringe on the aircraft's radar profile as little as possible, eventually settling on a combination of split brake-rudders and differential thrust. The B-2 Spirit was developed to take over the USAF's vital penetration missions, able to travel deep into enemy territory to deploy ordnance which could include nuclear weapons. Discover (and save!) [1], The Northrop team's ATB design was selected over the Lockheed/Rockwell design on 20 October 1981. [4] Total procurement costs averaged $929 million per aircraft, which includes spare parts, equipment, retrofitting, and software support. Used at the outset of Operation Odyssey Dawn, this aircraft … Military Jets Military Aircraft Air Fighter Fighter Jets Air Force Stealth Bomber B1 Bomber Stealth Aircraft Photo Avion. [81], The B-2's combat debut was in 1999, during the Kosovo War. [36] An August 1995 GAO report disclosed that the B-2 had trouble operating in heavy rain, as this rain could damage the aircraft's stealth coating, causing procurement delays until an adequate protective coating could be found. [113][114], Some analysts claim infra-red search and track systems (IRSTs) can be deployed against stealth aircraft, because any aircraft surface heats up due to air friction and with a two channel IRST is a CO2 (4.3 µm absorption maxima) detection possible, through difference comparing between the low and high channel.[115][116]. B-2s have made periodic appearances on ground display at various air shows. Location: New jersey. [121] B2SS hangars are known to have been deployed to Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford. The aircraft was destroyed, a hull loss valued at US$1.4 billion. 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