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B-2A Spirit Stealth Bomber Review of Technical Specifications – Northrop engineers worked for decades to perfect this flying wing, eventually installing it on the latest Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.
B-2A Spirit Stealth Bomber Review of Technical Specifications
Type | Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit |
Year of development | 1997 |
Development Status | Active, In-Service |
Manufacturer | Northrop Grumman |
Engine | Four General Electric F118-GE-110 turbofans provide 17,300 pounds of thrust each, without any additional equipment. |
Max Speed | 545 Knot (628 mph) |
MilitaryEzyInfo.com – Northrop Grumman’s B-2A Spirit Stealth Bomber, also known as the Stealth Bomber, is the pinnacle of tailless flight design, born from the mind of Northrop’s founder, Jack Northrop.
Not only did the pioneers of the B-2 take a tailless approach, but they also designed the aircraft from the start with stealth radar evasion and absorption capabilities, creating a low-profile profile that included a small heat source and a fuselage made of. -Clad material.
The ability to penetrate enemy airspace.
This allows bombers to penetrate enemy airspace, strike key targets in defenseless enemies with precision weapons, and keep the area undetected, creating a vanguard that paves the way for waves of more “stealth” aircraft to complete their missions.
First strike capability has become an important aspect of warfare in the 21st century, and as the Allies showed in the Kosovo War, the B-2A Spirit Stealth Bomber will not disappoint anyone on active duty.
Years of Development
Developed in the early 1970s, the B-2 was not finally launched until 1988. The Spirit did not make its first flight until 1989, after which it was to be supplemented by Rockwell’s B-1B Lancer replacement. It carried high speed, low altitude armor-piercing bombs, had high power engines, and employed a “swing-wing” design approach to fulfill its bomber mission.
The B-2 Spirit was designed as a launcher capable of hitting hard-to-reach targets with its powerful APQ-181 series radar.
The shape of the B-2 resembles a “double W.”
When viewed from above, the fuselage of the B-2 resembles a “double W” shape. While it had no vertical tail and used a large delta wing for main lift, maneuverability and control were provided by a complex on-board computer processing system that had been difficult to implement in Northrop’s earlier “flying wings.
This is because the basic flying wing has a number of stability problems that must be solved in order to realize the flying wing concept on a large scale.
To illustrate the importance of these advances, past Northrop wing attempts have often been fatal, in some cases resulting in the death of the testers.
The B-2 Airborne Project
The systems installed on the B-2 are said to have prevented the aircraft from crashing and eliminated maneuvering errors that could have cost the aircraft, precision flying techniques, and the lives of the two pilots.
The B-2’s wind tunnel profile boasted a low profile design. The engine was mounted in a combination nacelle on either side of the cockpit combination section.
The toilet and sleeping quarters were located directly behind the cockpit, allowing the crew to perform longer missions.
The increased wing area facilitated mission possibilities (at the expense of drag), allowed for the integration of additional fuel storage, the internal armory could be used to conceal munitions, and the latter quality helped to reduce the aircraft’s radar signature.
The B-2 Bomber Mission Was Expensive
132 The B-2 bomber was originally planned to be procured, but program costs rose rapidly (the B-2 program was funded at over $45 billion, or about $1.2 billion for a single B-2), and after the end of the Cold War, these costs dropped dramatically. It has been reduced to just 21 aircraft.
This final production number included six developmental aircraft that was later upgraded to full production. The first B-2 bomber was built in 1999 and the last one was delivered from the production line in 1998.
This series would replace the Stratofortress B-52 series, but both bombers continued to be used by the USAF along with over 60 Rockwell/Boeing B-1B Lancer series.
The B-2 first appeared during the Kosovo War in 1999 and later served during the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. The aircraft successfully conducted precision strikes using JDAM and GPS-guided munitions.
To demonstrate the B-2’s superior endurance, missions were flown from the US (Missouri, home of the B-2 Air Wing) to Europe and the Middle East using aerial refueling.
Northrop’s own founder, Jack Northrop, had witnessed the development of the B-2 and the realization of the flying wing dream during his lifetime.
Today, the B-2, although limited in number, provides the U.S. with a deadly first strike and preemptive strike capability unmatched anywhere in the world.
The first stealth bomber accident occurred on February 22, 2008, when a B-2 Spirit crashed shortly after takeoff from Guam during a support mission in the Western Pacific.
The two pilots ejected safely, but the incident resulted in the loss of three other B-2s at the base. An investigation revealed that some of the B-2’s sensors had accumulated moisture, distorting the pre-flight checks, which caused the accident.
The original B-2A was upgraded with very high frequency (EHF) satellite communications (SATCOM) equipment, expanding its capability to support more advanced precision-launched weapons.
The new system also supports aircraft communications and airframes, reducing maintenance time and costs.
Of the 21 B-2As acquired, 19 are operational with the US Air Force. In one instance, they are being used in a research and development role to continue another program. The series is expected to provide state-of-the-art service through the late 2050s.
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