The B-2 Spirit strategic bomber

On July 17, the B-2 Spirit strategic bomber, the only stealth aircraft of its class in the world to be adopted into service, turned 35 years old.

On that day in 1989, its first prototype took to the skies in Palmdale, California, USA, and flew to Edwards Air Force Base for further testing. The bomber was created by Northrop (since 1994, Northrop-Grumman). Its low radar visibility was largely achieved through the "flying wing" aerodynamic design. The company's founder, Jack Northrop, began practical research on it even before World War II. In the post-war period, experimental bombers YB-35 and YB-49 were created based on this design, solving the very complex problem of longitudinal and directional stability for the "flying wing." Although reducing radar visibility was not the goal at the time, tests revealed that these machines were significantly harder to detect by ground-based air defense radars compared to traditional aircraft. This experience was used in the creation of the B-2.

In addition to aerodynamics, a number of solutions aimed at reducing its visibility were incorporated into the design of the unconventional bomber. Specifically, special radar-absorbing coatings were applied to the external surfaces, and the engines were positioned in a particular manner. Supersonic speed, which had previously been one of the main requirements for modern strategic bombers, was even sacrificed for the sake of "invisibility." The result achieved can truly be called outstanding. The B-2 is approximately 1,000 times less visible to radar than a conventional large aircraft.

However, the cost of this program turned out to be too high even for the U.S. defense budget. As of 2021, it was estimated to be over 79 billion USD. Initially, the U.S. Air Force planned to purchase 132 B-2s but limited the order to just 21.

The B-2 is equipped with four F118-GE-100 turbofan engines, each with a maximum thrust of 7,847 kgf. The aircraft has a length of 21 meters, a wingspan of 52.42 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 152,634 kg, a maximum speed of 1010 km/h, and a range of over 11,000 km. Its combat load exceeds 18,000 kg. Its armament includes both nuclear and conventional munitions, including precision bombs GBU-27 and cruise missiles AGM-158 JASSM.

The B-2's first combat use occurred in 1999 during NATO's operation in Yugoslavia. Over 600 precision bombs were dropped on targets. During this time, the bombers flew non-stop missions with in-air refueling from their base in Whiteman, Missouri, to Kosovo and back. Later, the B-2 was used in combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya.