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According to the HuygensâFresnel principle, even a very flat plate would still reflect radar waves, though much less than when a signal is bouncing at a right angle. ; The Story Behind The B-2 Bomber Series Number: 2/3. [87] The arrays of the upgraded radar features were entirely replaced to make the AN/APQ-181 into an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. It is capable of all-altitude attack missions up to 50,000ft, with a range of more than 6,000nm unrefuelled and over 1â¦ Northrop and Lockheed were awarded contracts in the first round of testing. [59] In 2012, Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz stated the B-2's 1980s-era stealth technologies would make it less survivable in future contested airspaces, so the USAF is to proceed with the Next-Generation Bomber despite overall budget cuts. [95] In 2008, many of the 136[96] standalone distributed computers on board the B-2, including the primary flight management computer, were being replaced by a single integrated system. For other uses, see. [1], The Northrop team's ATB design was selected over the Lockheed/Rockwell design on 20 October 1981. In 2008, a B-2 was destroyed in a crash shortly after takeoff, though the crew ejected safely. Kris Osborn. Read full article. North Branch, Minnesota: Zenith Imprint, 2003. ", "Debate on Dellums Amendment to 1998 Defense Authorization Act. According to the StefanâBoltzmann law, this results in less energy (thermal radiation in the infrared spectrum) being released and thus a reduced heat signature. ", "An Extraordinarily Expensive Way to Fight ISIS", "Northrop Grumman and USAF Verify Proper Fit of 30,000 lb Penetrator Weapon on B-2 Bomber. [94], 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. [44], In time, a number of prominent members of Congress began to oppose the program's expansion, including later Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, who cast votes against the B-2 in 1989, 1991 and 1992 while a U.S. A dramatic leap forward in technology, the bomber represents a major milestone in the U.S. bomber modernization program. [87], The B-2 has various conventional weapons in its arsenal, able to equip Mark 82 and Mark 84 bombs, CBU-87 Combined Effects Munitions, GATOR mines, and the CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon. [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. ", "Kasich still touts opposition to stealth bomber", "Zell Miller's Attack on Kerry: A Little Out Of Date. "Pressure mounts as stealth bombers deployed". [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. Nineteen of the previous 20 B-2s are named after states; the exception is the B-2 representing North Carolina, which is named "Spirit of Kitty Hawk" in honor of the Wright Brothers historic flight. and S.P. [7][133], During the Iraq War, B-2s operated from Diego Garcia and an undisclosed "forward operating location". "Inside the stealth bomber". [147] Spirit of Kansas had been operated by the 393rd Bomb Squadron, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, and had logged 5,176 flight hours. B-2 Bomber and Implications for Future Large Aircraft DISTRIBUTION: Approved for public release, distribution unlimited This paper is part of the following report: TITLE: Structural Aspects of Flexible Aircraft ontrol [les Aspects structuraux du controle actif et flexible des aeronefs] To order the complete compilation report, use: â¦ "Kosovo showed us what I've known for a long time ... it works. ", USAF to Retire B-1, B-2 in Early 2030s as B-21 Comes On-Line. [97] The avionics are controlled by 13 EMP-resistant MIL-STD-1750A computers, which are interconnected through 26 MIL-STD-1553B-busses; other system elements are connected via optical fiber. To avoid the possibility of suspicion, components were typically purchased through front companies, military officials would visit out of uniform, and staff members were routinely subjected to polygraph examinations. On 23 February 2008, B-2 "AV-12" Spirit of Kansas crashed on the runway shortly after takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. During the 1980 presidential election campaign in 1979, Ronald Reagan repeatedly stated that Carter was weak on defense, and used the B-1 as a prime example. [the integrator, Northrop Grumman (newspaper), Volume 8, No. Die Northrop B-2 Spirit ist ein vierstrahliger strategischer Bomber des US-amerikanischen Herstellers Northrop. 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. 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. In response, on 22 August 1980 the Carter administration publicly disclosed that the United States Department of Defense was working to develop stealth aircraft, including a bomber. "Defense worker loses job over his ties to India". In the B-2's original configuration, up to 16 GAMs or JDAMs could be deployed;[86] an upgrade program in 2004 raised the maximum carriable capacity to 80 JDAMs. However, Aviation Week editors found that there were no airspace restrictions above the presentation area and took aerial photographs of the aircraft's then-secret rear section[27] with suppressed engine exhausts. As a result, the flight control computers calculated an inaccurate airspeed, and a negative angle of attack, causing the aircraft to pitch upward 30 degrees during takeoff. Goodall, James C. "The Northrop B-2A Stealth Bomber.". [90] This is to be followed by the Long Range Standoff Weapon which may give the B-2 a standoff nuclear capability for the first time. [4] The B-2 may cost up to $135,000 per flight hour to operate in 2010, which is about twice that of the B-52 and B-1. [128] The use of JDAMs and precision-guided munitions effectively replaced the controversial tactic of carpet-bombing, which had been harshly criticized due to it causing indiscriminate civilian casualties in prior conflicts, such as the 1991 Gulf War. [5] As of 2018, twenty B-2s are in service with the United States Air Force, which plans to operate them until 2032, when the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is to replace it. [130] By then, the B-2 had dropped 500 bombs in Yugoslavia. [7], By the mid-1970s, military aircraft designers had learned of a new method to avoid missiles and interceptors, known today as "stealth". [127] The B-2 was the first aircraft to deploy GPS satellite-guided JDAM "smart bombs" in combat use in Kosovo. [15] Full development of the black project followed, and was funded under the code name "Aurora". ", "B-2 radar modernization program contract awarded. The Rockwell B-1 Lancer is a supersonic variable-sweep wing, heavy bomber used by the United States Air Force.It is commonly called the "Bone" (from "B-One"). 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. The bomber can deploy â¦ With aerial refueling support, the B-2 flew one of its longest missions to date from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri to Afghanistan and back. [75][76], Approximately 80 pilots fly the B-2. [39][40], In its consideration of the fiscal year 1990 defense budget, the House Armed Services Committee trimmed $800 million from the B-2 research and development budget, while at the same time staving off a motion to end the project. The B-2 stealth bomber, based at Whiteman AFB, Mo., is capable of delivering conventional and nuclear munitions anywhere on the globe. Senator, representing Massachusetts. ", "B-2 Stealth Bomber To Carry New Nuclear Cruise Missile", Air Force Upgrades B-2 Stealth Bomber as Modern Air Defenses Advance, "Upgrade drags Stealth Bomber IT systems into the 90s. [57] However, in March 2012, the Pentagon announced that a $2 billion, 10-year-long modernization of the B-2 fleet was to begin. [64], In 1998, a Congressional panel advised the Air Force to refocus resources away from continued B-2 production and instead begin development of a new bomber, either a new build or a variant of the B-2. The aircraft was known as Air Vehicle 1 when it flew its initial sortie on July 17, 1989, traveling from Palmdale, Calif., to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. $7.13 shipping . [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. [61], In 2013, the USAF contracted for the Defensive Management System Modernization program to replace the antenna system and other electronics to increase the B-2's frequency awareness. ", "How Russia Could Someday Shootdown an F-22, F-35 or B-2 Stealth Bomber", "VI - STEALTH AIRCRAFT: EAGLES AMONG SPARROWS? [69], The development and construction of the B-2 required pioneering use of computer-aided design and manufacturing technologies, due to its complex flight characteristics and design requirements to maintain very low visibility to multiple means of detection. Find the perfect B2 Bomber stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. [28] Gowadia was convicted and sentenced to 32 years in prison for his actions. [15] Both teams used flying wing designs. ", "B-2s return to flight after safety pause. "Northrop B-2 Spirit". Designed during the Cold War, it is a flying wing design with a crew of two. [67] The B-2 is a flying wing aircraft, meaning that it has no fuselage or tail. [52], On 29 December 2008, Air Force officials awarded a US$468 million contract to Northrop Grumman to modernize the B-2 fleet's radars. [115][116], 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 Âµm absorption maxima) detection possible, through difference comparing between the low and high channel.[117][118]. Its combination of low observability, large payload capacity, near-precision munitions and long range give it a unique ability to penetrate sophisticated defenses and deny an enemy's â¦ [129] On 7 May 1999, a B-2 dropped five JDAMs on the Chinese Embassy, killing several staff. [131], The B-2 saw service in Afghanistan, striking ground targets in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Lockheed had experience in this field due to developing the Lockheed A-12 and SR-71, which included a number of stealthy features, notably its canted vertical stabilizers, the use of composite materials in key locations, and the overall surface finish in radar-absorbing paint. ", "AGM-158 JASSM Cruise Missiles: FY 2011 Orders. [41] Dellums and Kasich, in particular, worked together from 1989 through the early 1990s to limit production to 21 aircraft, and were ultimately successful. [25] Northrop (now Northrop Grumman) was the B-2's prime contractor; major subcontractors included Boeing, Hughes Aircraft (now Raytheon), GE, and Vought Aircraft.[7]. [83], The B-2's combat debut was in 1999, during the Kosovo War. [4] The total program cost, which included development, engineering and testing, averaged $2.13 billion per aircraft in 1997. Other sorties in Iraq have launched from Whiteman AFB. [14] An estimated US$23 billion was secretly spent for research and development on the B-2 by 1989. The B-2 Spirit is an integral part of the U.S. Air Force's bomber force, which also includes the B-1B Lancer and the B-52H Stratofortress. [58], It was reported in 2011 that the Pentagon was evaluating an unmanned stealth bomber, characterized as a "mini-B-2", as a potential replacement in the near future. [157] The test article passed all structural testing requirements before the airframe failed. Originally designed as an intercontinental, high-altitude nuclear bomber, the B-52âs operational capabilities have advanced over the years to meet changing national defense needs. This viewing was heavily restricted, and guests were not allowed to see the rear of the B-2. [106] The B-2 is vulnerable to visual interception at ranges of 20 nmi (23 mi; 37 km) or less. [69][78][79] Advanced training is conducted at the USAF Weapons School. [104] To avoid potential contact damage during takeoff and to provide a nose-down pitching attitude, all of the elevons remain drooped during takeoff until a high enough airspeed has been attained. A key reason for this cost is the provision of air-conditioned hangars large enough for the bomber's 172 ft (52 m) wingspan, which are needed to maintain the aircraft's stealth properties, particularly its "low-observable" stealth skins. [citation needed] The B-2's (s/n 82-1066 / AV-1) first public flight was on 17 July 1989 from Palmdale to Edwards AFB. "The stealth technology developed from the program was later incorporated into other operational aircraft designs, including the B-2 stealth bomber". [67] It has significant advantages over previous bombers due to its blend of low-observable technologies with high aerodynamic efficiency and large payload. "The B-2 will continue to be one of our frontline bombers way into the future. Was: Previous Price C $124.99. [69] "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. [105] 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. The resulting cooler air is conducted over a surface composed of heat resistant carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer and titanium alloy elements, which disperse the air laterally, in order to accelerate its cooling. Designed and initially produced by Blackburn Aircraft at Brough, it was later officially known as the Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer when Blackburn became a part of the Hawker Siddeley Group, but this name is rarely â¦ As a stealth bomber â¦ Flying 30-hour missions, the B-2 was highly effective because of its ability to deliver satellite-guided munitions in any weather conditions. The ATB project continued during the Reagan administration, but worries about delays in its introduction led to the reinstatement of the B-1 program. The aircraft christened "Spirit of America" today was the first B-2 to fly. [100] The flight computer receives information on external conditions such as the aircraft's current air speed and angle of attack via pitot-static sensing plates, as opposed to traditional pitot tubes which would impair the aircraft's stealth capabilities. The B2 Bomber is a cornerstone of the American long range and Stealth capability.This week we relax a little with some amazing footage of the bomber â¦ ", "Air Force Global Strike Command officials assume B-52, B-2 mission. It was a very difficult to get it right. Sie wird ausschließlich von der United States Air Force eingesetzt. The concept was to build an aircraft with an airframe that deflected or absorbed radar signals so that little was reflected back to the radar unit. 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. The B-2 is a low-observable, strategic, long-range, heavy bomber capable of penetrating sophisticated and dense air-defence shields. 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). [67][70] 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,[71] allegedly for political reasons. Burying engines deep inside the fuselage also minimizes the thermal visibility or infrared signature of the exhaust. However, in 1995, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), and its Director of National Security Analysis, found that additional B-2s would reduce the cost of expended munitions by less than US$2 billion in 1995 dollars during the first two weeks of a conflict, in which the Air Force predicted bombers would make their greatest contribution; a small fraction of the US$26.8 billion (in 1995 dollars) life cycle cost that the CBO projected for an additional 20 B-2s.[48]. [145][146], United States Air Force (20 aircraft in active inventory). Development started under the "Advanced Technology Bomber" (ATB) project during the Carter administration; its expected performance was one of the President's reasons for the cancellation of the Mach 2 capable B-1A bomber. [14], The Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB) program began in 1979. [83][84], It was decided, in light of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, to equip the B-2 for conventional precision attacks as well as for the strategic role of nuclear-strike. B-1 Bomber Lands North of the Arctic Circle. The B-2 crew uses whatâs called a âlong-duration kit,â which includes items such as a cot for sleeping and other essentials deemed necessary for a long flight, Mickelson explained. "Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit". President Carter became aware of these developments during 1977, and it appears to have been one of the major reasons the B-1 was canceled. [22], During its design and development, the Northrop B-2 program was a "black" project requiring a secret clearance for all program personnel before its revelation to the public. [132], The B-2's combat use preceded a U.S. Air Force declaration of "full operational capability" in December 2003. ", "Air Force Completes Preliminary Design Review of New B-2 Bomber Computer Architecture. ", "New Composite to Improve B-2 Durability. [151] This was the first crash of a B-2 and the only loss as of 2021[update]. [154][155] At the time of the accident the USAF had no training to deal with tailpipe fires on the B-2s.[156]. In September 1997, each hour of B-2 flight necessitated 119 hours of maintenance in turn. The B-2's clean, low-drag flying wing configuration not only provides exceptional range but is also beneficial to reducing its radar profile. This technique, known as continuous curvature, was made possible by advances in computational fluid dynamics, and first tested on the Northrop Tacit Blue. Save this search. 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.Designed during the Cold War, it is a flying wing design with a crew of two. [27], In October 2005, Noshir Gowadia, a design engineer who worked on the B-2's propulsion system, was arrested for selling B-2 related classified information to China. ", "President George H. Bush's State of the Union Address. In addition, the B-2's terrain-following/terrain-avoidance radar had difficulty distinguishing rain from other obstacles, rendering the subsystem inoperable during rain. [19] The Air Force originally planned to procure 165 of the ATB bomber. [112], RCS reduction as a result of shape had already been observed on the Royal Air Force's Avro Vulcan strategic bomber,[113] and the USAF's F-117 Nighthawk. [125] The B-2 reached initial operational capability (IOC) on 1 January 1997. [49] Nonetheless, Congress did not approve funding for additional B-2s. Its combination of low observability, large payload capacity, near-precision munitions and long range give it a unique ability to penetrate sophisticated defenses and deny an enemy's war-making capability. Bender, Brian and John Robinson. [4] The procurement cost per aircraft as detailed in GAO reports, which include spare parts and software support, was $929 million per aircraft in 1997 dollars. [121] In order to protect the operational integrity of its sophisticated radar absorbent material and coatings, each B-2 is kept inside a climate-controlled hangar (Extra Large Deployable Aircraft Hangar System) large enough to accommodate its 172-foot (52 m) wingspan. [141] 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. C $84.99. This includes development, procurement, facilities, construction, and spare parts. "First F-22 large-scale, air combat exercise wins praise and triggers surprise" (online title), "Away Game". [82][83] The B-2 is capable of carrying 40,000 lb (18,000 kg) of ordnance. [7] The B-2 is highly automated, and one crew member can sleep in a camp bed, use a toilet, or prepare a hot meal while the other monitors the aircraft, unlike most two-seat aircraft. unused MODEL KIT 1:72 scale Testors - rj. [110] Without vertical surfaces to reflect radar laterally, side aspect radar cross section is also reduced. [142], On 28 March 2013, two B-2s flew a round trip of 13,000 miles (21,000 km) from Whiteman Air Force base in Missouri to South Korea, dropping dummy ordnance on the Jik Do target range. B-2 Bomber: Status of Cost, Development, and Production. Each B-2 flew a 34-hour, round-trip mission from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri with 15 refuelings during the trip. [43] In 1990, the Department of Defense accused Northrop of using faulty components in the flight control system; it was also found that redesign work was required to reduce the risk of damage to engine fan blades by bird ingestion. [87] The onboard DMS is capable of automatically assessing the detection capabilities of identified threats and indicated targets. [136][137], 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. The B-2 Bomber Has More Firepower Than an Aircraft Carrier. [123][124], The first operational aircraft, christened Spirit of Missouri, was delivered to Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, where the fleet is based, on 17 December 1993. B-2s have conducted 27 sorties from Whiteman AFB and 22 sorties from a forward operating location, releasing more than 1,500,000 pounds (680,000 kg) of munitions,[7] including 583 JDAM "smart bombs" in 2003. 2,074 results for b2 bomber. [71], The B-2 is assembled with unusually tight engineering tolerances to avoid leaks as they could increase its radar signature. ", "Semantic Designs Aligns with Northrop Grumman to Modernize B-2 Spirit Bomber Software Systems", "Northrop Grumman Adding Mobile Targets to B-2 Bomber Capabilities. Usually ships within 6 to 10 days. Die Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider ist ein in Entwicklung befindlicher strategischer Langstreckenbomber der U.S. Air Force.Die als Tarnkappenflugzeug ausgelegte B-21 soll ab Mitte der 2020er Jahre die Rockwell B-1 und Northrop B-2 ablösen, wobei eine Gesamtstärke von 100 Maschinen geplant ist.Bis Februar 2016 war die B-21 unter der Projekt-Bezeichnung LRS-B (Long Range Strike Bomberâ¦ 5 out of 5 stars (237) $ 2.50. It entered service in 1997 as the second aircraft designed to have advanced stealth technology after the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk attack aircraft. Only 1 â¦ Fighter/bomber Manufacturer Gothaer Waggonfabrik: Designer Horten brothers: First flight 1 March 1944 (glider) Primary user Luftwaffe: Number built: 3 Developed into: Gotha Go P.60: The Horten H.IX, RLM designation Ho 229 (or Gotha Go 229 for extensive re-design work done by Gotha to prepare the aircraft for mass production) was a German prototype fighter/bomber â¦ Low observability provides a greater freedom of action at high altitudes, thus increasing both range and field of view for onboard sensors.