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B-2 'Spirit' Bomber | STEALTH HEAVY HITTER
The U.S. Air Force's Northrop Grumman B-2 stealth bomber is a key component of the nation's long-range strike arsenal, and one of the most survivable aircraft in the world. Its unique capabilities, including its stealth characteristics, allow it to penetrate the most sophisticated enemy defenses and hold at risk high value, heavily defended targets.
The B-2 is the only U.S. aircraft that combines long range, large payload and stealth in a single platform, giving it the ability to project air power anywhere in the world. It can fly 6,000 nautical miles unrefueled and 10,000 nautical miles with just one aerial refueling. With its ability to carry more than 20 tons of conventional and nuclear ordnance and deliver it precisely under any weather conditions, the B-2 also has the ability to change the outcome of a conflict with a single mission.
Northrop Grumman, the B-2 prime contractor, leads an industry team that is working with the Air Force to modernize the B-2 to ensure that it remains fully mission capable against evolving worldwide threats. A range of upgrade programs are improving the B-2's lethality; its ability to collect, process and disseminate battlefield information with joint force commanders or other local first responders worldwide; and its ability to receive updated target information during a mission.
Nineteen B-2s are currently based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., home of the 509th Bomb Wing, while one aircraft is assigned to flight testing at Edwards AFB, Calif. to validate software and weapon systems upgrades.
With the current US president announcing plans to increase the US defense budget this year in order to rebuild the depleted military of the United States, we may need to take stock of what expenditure has already been spent by the good ole Us of A. The current increase of billions of dollars will take the US even further ahead of the rest of the world in terms of outright military spending. And yes, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, in 2015 US defense spending outstripped that of China, Russia, the UK, France, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and India combined. While none of us can claim that US defense spending has been anything less than excessive, it has been perhaps an important part of overall world peacekeeping. So just what has been the biggest single expenditure on US military hardware? What has been the most dramatic dollar per man expenditure? Well, with each American tax paying citizen contributing over 30 dollars on the production of it, we attempt to answer that question today, on this episode of the Infographics Show, why does the B2 Bomber cost $2 Billion?
Take a never-before-seen look inside the world's most powerful and most deadly aircraft - The B-2 Stealth Bomber.
It's a strategic bomber, not a tactical bomber. The F117 Nighthawk is an example of a tactical bomber.
