B-2 Spirit
by Staff EditorThe B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. Its low-observable, or "stealth," characteristics give it the unique ability to penetrate an enemy's most sophisticated defenses and threaten its most valued, and heavily defended, targets, and gives rise to the Spirit being commonly called the ‘Stealth Bomber.’ Added to its stealthiness is high aerodynamic efficiency and a large payload, allowing the Spirit to bring massive firepower to bear, in a short time, anywhere on the globe through previously impenetrable defenses.
B-2 Specifications
| Manufacturer: | Northrop Grumman Corp. |
| First Flight: | 7/1989 |
| Wingspan: | 172 ft. (52.2 m) |
| Height: | 17 ft. (5.1 m) |
| Length: | 69 ft. (20.9 m) |
| Payload: | 40,000 lbs. (18,144 kg) internal only |
| Thurst: | 17,300 lbs. (77 kN) x four engines |
| Top Speed at Altitude: | High subsonic |
| Ceiling: | 50,000 ft. (15,240 m) |
| Range: | 6,000 nm (9,600 km) |
| Crew: | Two |
