The Air Force plans to phase out the B-2 Spirit and replace it with the B-21 Raider. But the replacement is still some years away.
The U.S. Air Force has the most formidable fleet of strategic bombers in the world. These aircraft can deliver conventional and nuclear munitions anywhere in the world.
The most visually distinctive aircraft within America’s bomber fleet is unquestionably the B-2 Spirit. The strange black aircraft first entered service in 1997 and is expected to remain with the Air Force until the introduction of its successor, the B-21 Raider—a sixth-generation stealth strategic bomber that has an uncanny resemblance to the B-2.
The B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber
The U.S. Air Force’s Global Strike Command is responsible for precision strikes anytime and anywhere in the world. The Command has three aircraft in its arsenal to perform this mission: the B-1 Lancer, the B-2 Spirit, and the B-52 Stratofortress. The aircraft completed its maiden flight in 1989—introducing a new era of bomber and stealth capabilities.
The B-2 Spirit is the U.S. military’s second stealth strategic bomber, after the venerable F-117 Nighthawk. Notably, these two aircraft are the only stealth bombers in the world to enter operational service in substantial numbers.
In terms of operational capabilities, the B-2 Spirit requires a crew of two, a pilot and a co-pilot. The stealth bomber can carry a payload of approximately 40,000 lbs of munitions, including conventional and nuclear weapons.
The aircraft is powered by four General Electric F118-GE-100 engines that can produce a combined thrust of 68,000 lbs. This thrust translates to a maximum speed of approximately Mach 0.9 (700 miles per hour). However, the B-2 mainly relies on its stealth attributes to evade enemy air defenses and radars. Indeed, its stealth capabilities make the aircraft ideal for deep-penetration strikes in contested airspaces.
First delivered in 1993, the B-2 Spirit is becoming old. Still, it is not uncommon for aircraft platforms to operate for decades before their retirement—indeed, the Air Force even plans for its B-52 Stratofortress fleet to operate well into the 2060s, which would mean that the platform would be flying for over a century. And if the B-21 Raider project is delayed, it is likely that the Air Force would continue to rely on the B-2 to pick up the slack.
Bringing the B-2 Spirit to the Modern Era
The Air Force plans to phase out the B-2 Spirit (and the B-1 Lancer) and replace it with the B-21 Raider. But the replacement is still some years away, and the B-2 is required to maintain combat readiness during a time of increased and more versatile threats.
As part of an upgrade package, Northrop Grumman recently rolled out the Spirit Realm 1 (SR1) upgrade. The SR1, which is mostly focused on software upgrades, aims to bring the B-2 in line with developments in technology and ensure that the stealth bomber can continue to operate effectively.
“We are rapidly fielding capabilities with zero software defects through the software factory development ecosystem and further enhancing the B-2 fleet’s mission effectiveness,” Jerry McBrearty, the director and B-2 acting program manager at Northrop Grumman, said about the upgrades. “The agile framework methodology within SR 1 directly supports the Air Force’s initiative to adapt new capabilities in the aircraft, executing the mission today.”
The SR1 upgrades utilize open mission systems architecture that can incorporate future updates quickly and efficiently. Thus, the Air Force has a better and more cost-effective way to ensure that its fleet of about 19 B-2s remains competitive until the B-21’s arrival.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock / Mark Reinstein.
