B-2 Spirit. Stealth Bomber

B-2 Spirit. Stealth Bomber

The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber

The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, the black, "bat-like" is a low-observable, strategic, long-range, heavy bomber capable of penetrating sophisticated and dense air-defence shields, The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber reserved for use against targets of the highest priority, built by Northrop Grumman in Pico Rivera and Palmdale in California, for the United States Air Force.

TheB-2 Spirit stealth bomber capable of all-altitude attack missions up to 15,000 m, with a range of more than 11,000 km (6000 Nautical Miles) unrefuelled and over 18,500 km (10000 Nautical Miles) with one refuelling, giving it the ability to fly to any point in the world within hours.

An assessment published by the United States Air Force showed that two B-2s armed with precision weaponry can do the job of 75 conventional aircraft. The United States Air Force had originally wanted 132 aircraft, but funding restrictions have seen the fleet completed with just 21 aircraft.

The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is the costliest warplane ever built (around $900 million per copy).

The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber has a minimal IR signature, and uses its shielded Raytheon AN/APQ-181 radar only momentarily to identify a target just before attacking. The B-2 Spirit has a highly advanced, classified electronic warfare system.

Stealth Coating :

The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is difficult to maintain and is prone to trouble with the coating that provides much of its stealth, but Northrop Grumman has developed a new radar-absorbent coating to preserve the B-2’s stealth characteristics while drastically reducing maintenance time. This new material, known as alternate high-frequency material (AHFM), is sprayed on by four independently controlled robots.

B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Cockpit :

Thecockpit It is equipped with a colour, nine-tube, electronic flight instrumentation system, which displays avionics systems and sensor data and weapons status and flight, engine. The cockpit of B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber accommodates two crew.

The cockpit It is equipped with a colour, nine-tube, electronic flight instrumentation system

B-2 Spirit stealth bomber advanced :

Northrop Grumman was awarded a contract to develop an computer architecture upgrade for the B-2 Spirit and EHF satellite communications capability, and integrated processing unit (IPU) for the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. Flight testing with the new systems was completed in 2009.

This new architecture provides high-speed data handling environment required to implement future B-2 Spirit capabilities such as an EHF satellite communications system. This new upgrade make it capable against evolving worldwide threats and its ability to receive updated target information during a mission, and to collect, process and disseminate battlefield information with joint force commanders or other local first responders worldwide.

A generic weapons interface system (GWIS) is an integrated digital software package, which allows the B-2 to carry different mixes of stand-off weapons and direct attack munitions on a single sortie, enabling the aircraft to attack up to 4 different types of targets on a single mission.

Weapons :

The B-2 Spirit has the capacity to carry up to 40,000lb of weapons, including nuclear and conventional weapons, gravity bombs, precision-guided munitions and a range of maritime weapons. The B-2 Spirit carries all its weapons internally and is fitted with two separate weapons bays in the centre of the aircraft. Each weapons bay is equipped with a rotary launcher and two bomb-rack assemblies.

In tests, the B-2 Spirit successfully released B-83 and B-61 nuclear "B83 is a strategic free-fall nuclear bomb. The B61-11 is an earth-penetrating nuclear bomb for use against deeply buried and hardened targets."

Also the B-2 Spirit successfully released mk82 and CBU-87 conventional weapons from the bomb racks, and mk84 conventional bombs from the rotary rocket launcher.

Originally the B-2 Spirit was intended to carry 16 AGM-129 ACM air-launched cruise missile. It was the first stealthy cruise missile. It had a range of around 1,500 miles and was fitted with a variable yield (5-150 kT) nuclear warhead. This missile was developed out of concern that a stealthy bomber needs a stealthy missile in order to be effective against the most advanced Soviet air defense systems.

MOP 432 Missile. The B-2 Spirit has the capacity to carry up to 40,000lb of weapons

Northrop Grumman is converting the B-2 Spirit bomb rack assembly to a new smart configuration, which will increase the number of JDAMs which can be carried to a maximum of 80. The aircraft B-2 Spirit will also be fitted with the joint stand-off weapon (JSOW) and the wind-compensated munitions dispenser (WCMD), joint air-to-surface stand-off missiles (JASSM), These stealthy missile were specially designed to penetrate advanced air defense systems, such as the Russian S-300 and its improved derivatives, and will be able to carry up to 80 115kg small diameter bombs (SDB).

The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is capable of carrying 2 MOP weapons, 1 in each weapons bay. The MOP is GPS-guided, contains 2,400kg of explosive and is designed to penetrate hardened, deeply buried targets.

A new transportable hangar for B-2 Spirit :

A new transportable hangar system has been developed which allows the B-2 Spirit to be deployed to forward locations overseas. The hangars are 126ft long, 250ft wide and 55ft high. 

The first of these hangars has been erected on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

A new transportable hangar system

B-2 stealth bomber Accidents :

On 23 February 2008, a B-2 stealth bomber crashed shortly after take-off from Andersen AFB in Guam, the first crash in the aircraft’s history. The two pilots ejected safely from the aircraft, which was not carrying munitions. A United States Air Force investigation released an accident report in 2008 which concluded that the crash was caused by moisture in the port transducer units. These sensors sent distorted information to the air data system.

On 23 February 2008, a B-2 stealth bomber crashed shortly after take-off from Andersen AFB in Guam

A United States Air Force investigation released an accident report in 2008 which concluded that the crash was caused by moisture in the port transducer units. These sensors sent distorted information to the air data system.