B-2 Spirit
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit was the first operational stealth bomber, developed under the Advanced Technology Bomber program awarded in 1981 and in US Air Force service since 1997. All 21 aircraft were delivered between 1993 and 2000; 19 remain after two losses, all based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, from which the type flies strike missions of 30-plus hours with aerial refueling.
The June 2025 strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Operation Midnight Hammer, turned a 28-year-old aircraft into the centerpiece of the largest B-2 combat operation flown, penetrating defended airspace behind F-35 escorts. The 1997 decision to cap production at 21 is the fleet-size problem the B-21 program, planned at 100 or more, was structured to correct.
B-2 Spirit at a glance
All B-2s were completed to the single B-2A standard, progressively upgraded ever since.
Variant comparison
| Specification | B-2A |
|---|---|
| Configuration | Two-pilot flying-wing stealth bomber, conventional and nuclear |
| Primary operator | US Air Force, Whiteman AFB |
| Status | In service; 19 remain after two losses |
| Distinguishing feature | First operational stealth bomber; 6,900 nm unrefueled range |
Only 21 were built before production ended, making the B-2 one of the most expensive aircraft ever fielded per airframe, and the surviving 19 will serve until the B-21 fleet matures.
Full specifications
Latest B-2 Spirit coverage from AeroTime
Frequently asked questions
Just 21, delivered between 1993 and 2000; 19 remain in service after two crashes.
It was the first bomber to combine flying-wing efficiency with all-aspect stealth, able to penetrate modern air defenses that would stop any conventional bomber.
The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider, expected to begin entering service in 2027 with at least 100 planned.