Key Factors: The U.S. Air Drive operates solely 19 B-2 Spirit stealth bombers attributable to their excessive price—$2.1 billion per jet. Initially, the Air Drive envisioned a fleet of as much as 139, however post-Chilly Struggle finances cuts decreased the order to 21.
-Two have since been misplaced to accidents. Regardless of its restricted numbers, the B-2 is a strategic asset able to delivering 80 JDAMs or nuclear weapons globally, making it a crucial part of the U.S. nuclear triad.
-Whereas growing old and dear to keep up, the B-2 stays related, although it’ll finally give solution to the extra superior B-21 Raider by the 2030s.
Why Are There Solely 19 B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers In Service?
I keep in mind the primary time I noticed a B-2 Spirit bomber at an air present at Kirtland Air Drive Base in New Mexico.
It was a uncommon sighting for the reason that Air Drive prefers to maintain prying eyes from seeing such a precious asset that may carry doom to the enemy on different continents.
I used to be amazed on the measurement and presence of the menacing bomber. I had related it extra with the smaller F-117 Nighthawk, however the B-2 is immense.
One can think about the ordnance it may ship with such an infinite payload.
However sadly for the U.S. army, there are solely 19 B-2s in service.
A U.S. Air Drive B-2 Spirit assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing from Whiteman Air Drive Base, Missouri, receives gasoline from a a centesimal Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker throughout World Thunder 20, Oct. 28, 2019. World Thunder is an annual command and management train that gives coaching alternatives for all of U.S. Strategic Command’s mission areas, assessments joint and discipline coaching operations, and has a selected give attention to nuclear readiness. (U.S. Air Drive picture by Employees Sgt. Trevor T. McBride)
The stealthy B-2s fly out of Whiteman Air Drive Base in Missouri. They’ve recently been busy attacking the Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. The warplanes are hitting underground weapons depots to rob the Houthis of their ammunition. This reveals the B-2’s geographic attain and the way it’s nonetheless related in 2024.
Allow us to dive into the Air Drive’s unending nightmare in the case of the B-2 bomber: the numbers drawback.
The Excessive Value Offers Pentagon Quantity Crunchers Suits
The most important drawback with the B-2 and why its numbers have been restricted is the associated fee.
Every bomber set the Air Drive again $2.1 billion a bit. That is an eye-watering value that the U.S. authorities may simply not afford to pay past the 19 in existence.
However Take A Nearer Take a look at This Bomb Truck
Nonetheless, one may argue that the funding has been value it.
B-2s can carry 40,000 kilos of munitions from two inside weapons bays. Initially, 16 JDAMs (Joint Direct Assault Munitions) may very well be dropped, and these are extremely correct “good bombs” that may punish the enemy into submission.
A crew chief assigned to the a hundred and tenth Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, prepares a B-2 Spirit for departure from Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, Sept. 11, 2021. The stealth bomber offers distinctive capabilities to combatant commanders with their means to strike targets with out being detected. Working out of Iceland permits Airmen and the B-2 to guarantee allies by contributing to safety within the European theater. (U.S. Air Drive picture by Airman 1st Class Victoria Hommel)
Then, the Air Drive discovered a manner to enhance the rack design on the bomb bays, and now as much as 80 JDAMs might be carried.
Big Leg of the Nuclear Triad
Even higher, the B-2 is a strategic asset that may carry nuclear weapons.
That is the bombers’ most essential job. The airplane, with aerial re-fueling, can ship nuclear munitions anyplace on this planet. It’s a important a part of the U.S. army’s nuclear triad and will probably be a necessary cog in protection methods for years.
Some Wished Over 100 Stealth Bombers
For these causes, the Division of Protection hoped to carry dozens extra B-2s into service.
The Air Drive initially needed 75. Different strategists and protection acquisition professionals aimed for 139 B-2s.
Nonetheless, the value tag went up due to excessive analysis and improvement prices as a result of necessity for costly stealth coatings and different options.
Then, the Chilly Struggle Ended
The “peace dividend” after the Chilly Struggle, when protection budgets had been lower significantly and the Air Drive was hit with a discount in pressure necessities, positioned the B-2 on the chopping block.
There was not a Soviet risk, and numerous nuclear supply methods wasn’t wanted. There have been merely fewer targets to hit.
Secretary of Protection Dick Cheney, serving underneath President George HW Bush, determined that the strategic bomber wasn’t wanted as badly and selected to fly solely 21 B-2s.
One B-2 went down in a crash in 2008.
One other accident in 2022 broken a B-2 past restore. Nineteen stealth bombers survived.
The B-2 Has A lot Upside
The peace dividend determination by Cheney and others on the Pentagon was a mistake.
The B-2s loved a wonderful fight file in the course of the first Gulf Struggle and the invasion of Iraq in 2003. With out the shock and awe marketing campaign from the Spirit bombers, Operation Desert Storm and the deposing of Saddam Hussein wouldn’t have been as profitable.
A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber from Whiteman Air Drive Base completes a fly-over in the course of the Sound of Pace Airshow at Rosecrans Air Nationwide Guard Base, in St. Joseph, Missouri, Could 1, 2021. The air present was hosted by the town of St. Joseph and 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air Nationwide Guard to thank the group for his or her assist. (U.S. Air Nationwide Guard picture by Airman Janae Masoner)
In the course of the World Struggle on Terror, the B-2 was a workhorse and allowed for tons of munitions to be dropped on militants.
It’s nonetheless getting used within the Center East and is required for the rise of nice powers reminiscent of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran.
Is the Stealth Bomber Out of Date?
Not everybody agrees with this evaluation. Some assume the B-2 has seen higher days and isn’t as stealthy because it as soon as was.
It may very well be shot down by extra superior radar methods and air defenders reminiscent of S-400 and S-500 surface-to-air missile batteries. That’s the reason the Air Drive goes with the brand new B-21 Raider.
Additionally, the B-2 is tough and dear to keep up. Conserving it within the air requires a highly-trained crew and across the clock vigilance.
191209-N-HG846-2001 NORFOLK,Va. (Dec. 9, 2019) This poster is designed to speak the plane specs of the B2 Spirit Stealth Bomber. The B2 bomber was launched on Jan. 1, 1997 by the Northrop Company.
However the B-2 remains to be wanted, and it is going to be a precious asset till the 2030s, when the B-21 will take its place. The Spirit is a vital a part of the nuclear triad and remains to be a beast in the case of delivering weapons.
It may well make it to many sizzling spots around the globe and punish the enemy. It’s too unhealthy there are solely 19 in service, however hopefully, there will probably be at the least 100 B-21s sometime, and the B-2 can then retire with distinction.
Concerning the Creator: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the creator of Don’t Flip Your Again On the World: a Conservative International Coverage and People, Machines, and Knowledge: Future Developments in Warfare, plus two different books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech agency that predicted world occasions utilizing synthetic intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and suggested the senator on protection and overseas coverage points. He has taught at American College, George Washington College, and George Mason College. Brent is a former U.S. Military Infantry officer. He might be adopted on X @BMEastwood.
