The massive takeoff of more than half of the United States B-2 Spirit stealth bombers

@DefAviation ES 4·25·2024 · 23:02 0

The world is experiencing a second Cold War and, as in the first, strategic bomber fleets are a very important asset.

The impressive low approach of a B-2 Spirit with landing gear problems
The USAF shows more photos of the B-21 Raider and talks about a future without B-1B nor B-2

Waiting for the entry into service of the new B-21 Raider, currently the US Air Force (USAF) has three types of strategic bombers with nuclear capabilities: the old but still effective ones Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, the Rockwell B-1B Lancer (the only US supersonic strategic bomber) and the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, the only ones with stealth capability, that is, they have a very low radar signature that allows them to fly over enemy territory practically unnoticed.

The USAF has 20 active B-2 Spirits. They are few compared to the 72 B-52 and 62 B-1B that the USAF has active, but it must be taken into account that the B-2 is by far the most expensive aircraft in the history of aviation:At the time of its entry into service in 1997, each aircraft cost $737 million.

The majority of the B-2s are based at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. That base was the scene of a routine Spirit Vigilance exercise on April 15 in which a massive takeoff of 12 B-2 Spirit, more than half of the fleet of these aircraft. Here the video:

The USAF has noted that "Spirit Vigilance is one of a series of routine exercises held by Air Force global strike bases across the enterprise that focus on the training and readiness of Airmen. These exercises are regularly planned and are conducted to continuously evaluate and enhance U.S. deterrence capabilities. You can see some photos of this here. mass takeoff spread by the portal DVIDshub.net of the US Armed Forces: