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B-2 Spirit Northrop Grumman
B-2 Spirit
Intercontinental Strategic Bomber

DESCRIPTION:
The prototype B-2 stealth bomber emerged in 1988 after a decade of top secret research by the US Air Force. The B-2 design made great strides over previous attempts at stealth aircraft, such as the B-1B and F-117, thanks to a more refined understanding of radar wave reflection and its aerodynamic flying wing shape.
The contoured wing shape of the B-2 Spirit contains the crew compartment, payload bays, and engines, thus hiding the most radar reflective components within its interior. In addition to being covered in radar absorbant materials (RAM), all of the lines of the B-2 are parallel to each other to scatter radar waves away from their point of origin (see 3-view below). Also, the engine exhaust is vented through a long trough covered with heat-absorbing materials to reduce the infrared heat signature of the B-2.
The Air Force originally planned to acquire 133 stealth bombers but have since cut that number to a mere 21 active duty aircraft. Though originally designed as a nuclear strike platform, the B-2 has also been equipped to carry conventional weapons like JDAM. The B-2 has made extensive use of its new conventional strike role during recent conflicts in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Last modified 29 November 2005

HISTORY:

First Flight 17 July 1989

Service Entry

April 1997

CREW:

two: pilot, co-pilot/mission commander

ESTIMATED COST:

$1.157 billion [1998$]

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root unknown

Wing Tip unknown

DIMENSIONS:

Length 69.00 ft (21.03 m)

Wingspan 172.00 ft (52.43 m)

Height 17.00 ft (5.18 m)

Wing Area 5,000 ft² (465.5 m²)

Canard Area

not applicable

WEIGHTS:

Empty 150,000 to 160,000 lb (68,040 to 72,575 kg)

Normal Takeoff 336,500 lb (152,635 kg)

Max Takeoff 376,000 lb (170,550 kg)

Fuel Capacity internal: 200,000 lb (90,720 kg)
external: none

Max Payload

40,000 lb (18,145 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant four General Electric F118-110 turbofans

Thrust

76,000 lb (338 kN)

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed at altitude: 530 mph (850 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m), Mach 0.8
at sea level: 485 mph (780 km/h), Mach 0.65
cruise speed: 515 mph (830 km/h) at 37,000 ft (11,275 m), Mach 0.78

Initial Climb Rate 3,000 ft (915 m) / min

Service Ceiling 50,000 ft (15,240 m)

Range typical: 6,000 nm (11,110 km)
w/1 aerial refueling: 10,000 nm (18,520 km)

g-Limits +2.0

ARMAMENT:

Gun none

Stations two internal bomb bays

Air-to-Surface Missile up to 16 AGM-69 SRAM II, up to 16 AGM-129 ACM, AGM-154 JSOW

Bomb up to 16 B61/B83 nuclear bombs, up to 80 Mk 82 500-lb GP, up to 16 Mk 84 2,000-lb GP, up to 36 M117 750-lb GP, up to 16 GBU-31 JDAM, up to 16 GBU-36, up to 8 GBU-37 (GAM-113), up to 36 CBU-87/89/97/98 cluster

Other up to 80 Mk 36 or Mk 62 500-lb sea mines

KNOWN VARIANTS:

B-2A Original bomber operating from Whitman AFB, Missiouri; 22 built

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD: Kosovo - Operation Allied Force (USAF, 1999)
Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom (USAF, 2001)
Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom (USAF, 2003)

KNOWN OPERATORS: United States (US Air Force)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

B-2 Spirit

SOURCES:

Boeing B-2 site

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 707-708, Northrop B-2A.

Donald, David and Lake, Jon, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 2000, p. 333-335, Northrop B-2 Spirit.

FAS B-2 site

Global Security B-2 site

Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1995, p. 217, Northrop-Grumman B-2 Spirit.

Laur, Timothy M. and Llanso, Steven L. Encyclopedia of Modern U.S. Military Weapons. NY: Berkley Books, 1995, p. 23-25, Stealth (B-2).

Miller, David, ed. The Illustrated Directory of Modern American Weapons. London: Salamander Books, 2002, p. 38-43, Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit.

Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 188-189.

Spohrer, Jennifer and Frase, Tuesday. Jane's Combat Simulations: ATF Gold Users Manual. San Mateo, CA: Electronic Arts, 1997, p. 9.4-9.6.

Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 148-150, Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit.

Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 126-128, Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit.

US Air Force B-2 Fact Sheet

Wilson, Jim. Combat: The Great American Warplane. NY: Hearst Books, 2001, p. 32-35, B-2 Spirit.

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	Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit Intercontinental Strategic Bomber

DESCRIPTION: The prototype B-2 stealth bomber emerged in 1988 after a decade of top secret research by the US Air Force. The B-2 design made great strides over previous attempts at stealth aircraft, such as the B-1B and F-117, thanks to a more refined understanding of radar wave reflection and its aerodynamic flying wing shape. The contoured wing shape of the B-2 Spirit contains the crew compartment, payload bays, and engines, thus hiding the most radar reflective components within its interior. In addition to being covered in radar absorbant materials (RAM), all of the lines of the B-2 are parallel to each other to scatter radar waves away from their point of origin (see 3-view below). Also, the engine exhaust is vented through a long trough covered with heat-absorbing materials to reduce the infrared heat signature of the B-2. The Air Force originally planned to acquire 133 stealth bombers but have since cut that number to a mere 21 active duty aircraft. Though originally designed as a nuclear strike platform, the B-2 has also been equipped to carry conventional weapons like JDAM. The B-2 has made extensive use of its new conventional strike role during recent conflicts in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Last modified 29 November 2005
HISTORY:
First Flight	17 July 1989
Service Entry	April 1997
CREW:	two: pilot, co-pilot/mission commander
ESTIMATED COST:	$1.157 billion [1998$]
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	unknown
Wing Tip	unknown
DIMENSIONS:
Length	69.00 ft (21.03 m)
Wingspan	172.00 ft (52.43 m)
Height	17.00 ft (5.18 m)
Wing Area	5,000 ft² (465.5 m²)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	150,000 to 160,000 lb (68,040 to 72,575 kg)
Normal Takeoff	336,500 lb (152,635 kg)
Max Takeoff	376,000 lb (170,550 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: 200,000 lb (90,720 kg) external: none
Max Payload	40,000 lb (18,145 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	four General Electric F118-110 turbofans
Thrust	76,000 lb (338 kN)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 530 mph (850 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m), Mach 0.8 at sea level: 485 mph (780 km/h), Mach 0.65 cruise speed: 515 mph (830 km/h) at 37,000 ft (11,275 m), Mach 0.78
Initial Climb Rate	3,000 ft (915 m) / min
Service Ceiling	50,000 ft (15,240 m)
Range	typical: 6,000 nm (11,110 km) w/1 aerial refueling: 10,000 nm (18,520 km)
g-Limits	+2.0
ARMAMENT:
Gun	none
Stations	two internal bomb bays
Air-to-Surface Missile	up to 16 AGM-69 SRAM II, up to 16 AGM-129 ACM, AGM-154 JSOW
Bomb	up to 16 B61/B83 nuclear bombs, up to 80 Mk 82 500-lb GP, up to 16 Mk 84 2,000-lb GP, up to 36 M117 750-lb GP, up to 16 GBU-31 JDAM, up to 16 GBU-36, up to 8 GBU-37 (GAM-113), up to 36 CBU-87/89/97/98 cluster
Other	up to 80 Mk 36 or Mk 62 500-lb sea mines
KNOWN VARIANTS:
B-2A	Original bomber operating from Whitman AFB, Missiouri; 22 built
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	Kosovo - Operation Allied Force (USAF, 1999) Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom (USAF, 2001) Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom (USAF, 2003)
KNOWN OPERATORS:	United States (US Air Force)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: Boeing B-2 site Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 707-708, Northrop B-2A. Donald, David and Lake, Jon, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 2000, p. 333-335, Northrop B-2 Spirit. FAS B-2 site Global Security B-2 site Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1995, p. 217, Northrop-Grumman B-2 Spirit. Laur, Timothy M. and Llanso, Steven L. Encyclopedia of Modern U.S. Military Weapons. NY: Berkley Books, 1995, p. 23-25, Stealth (B-2). Miller, David, ed. The Illustrated Directory of Modern American Weapons. London: Salamander Books, 2002, p. 38-43, Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit. Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 188-189. Spohrer, Jennifer and Frase, Tuesday. Jane's Combat Simulations: ATF Gold Users Manual. San Mateo, CA: Electronic Arts, 1997, p. 9.4-9.6. Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 148-150, Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit. Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 126-128, Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit. US Air Force B-2 Fact Sheet Wilson, Jim. Combat: The Great American Warplane. NY: Hearst Books, 2001, p. 32-35, B-2 Spirit.