International

What Are B-2 Bombers? America바카라™s Strategic Stealth Weapon Used in Iran Strikes

B-2 is one of America's most advanced strategic weapons platforms, capable of entering sophisticated air defenses and delivering precision strikes against hardened targets.

B-2 bombers
B-2 bombers, one of America's most advanced strategic weapons platforms| Photo: AP |
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US President Donald Trump on Sunday said the strikes on three Iranian sites were a 'spectacular military success' and the US Air Force's B-2 Spirit stealth bombers were involved in strikes.

He said the B-2 bombers had refueled many times in mid-air before striking the three places.

The bomber was made by Northrop Grumman (NOC.N) with cutting-edge stealth technology.

Here is what the B-2 Stealth Bombers are

Reuters says the B-2 is one of America's most advanced strategic weapons platforms, capable of entering sophisticated air defenses and delivering precision strikes against hardened targets such as Iran's buried network of nuclear facilities.

With aerial refueling, the B-2 can reach virtually any target worldwide, as demonstrated in missions from Missouri to Afghanistan and Libya and now Iran.

Reuters says its production ran in the late 1980s but was stopped by the fall of the Soviet Union. Only 21 were made after the Pentagon's planned acquisition program was truncated.

B-2 Special Features

The carrier's cost is a whopping $2.1 billion each, making it the most expensive military aircraft ever built.

Its range is over 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 km) without refueling, enabling global strike capabilities from continental US bases.

The aircraft's payload capacity of more than 40,000 pounds (18,144 kg) allows it to carry a wide range of conventional and nuclear weapons.

The bomber's internal weapons bays are designed to accommodate large ordnance loads, including two GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator), a 30,000-pound precision-guided "bunker buster" bomb.

The B-2's two-pilot crew configuration reduces personnel requirements while maintaining operational effectiveness through advanced automation systems.

The B-2's stealth technology incorporates radar-absorbing materials and angular design features that minimize detection by enemy air defense systems. Its radar cross-section is comparable to that of a small bird, making it nearly invisible to conventional radar.

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