U.S. Air Force opts not to repair damaged 'Ghost' B‑2 bomber

The United States Air Force has decided not to repair a malfunctioning B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. What's special about this aircraft?

The B-2 bombers, nicknamed "Ghosts," are dubbed "invisible" because their stealth technology makes them almost undetectable by radars. This capability, along with their high speed, significant payload capacity, and ability to operate at both low and high altitudes, equips them for a wide range of missions.

Produced by Northrop Grumman, the B-2 bombers can penetrate advanced enemy air defenses to carry out both conventional and nuclear missions, irrespective of the sophistication of the opposing air defense systems.

The B-2 Spirit bomber has a takeoff weight of approximately 153,000 kg, with the aircraft itself weighing about 73,000 kg. Powered by four General Electric F118-GE-100 engines, it can reach a top speed of over 1,040 km/h. Its range of roughly 9,600 km makes it an intercontinental bomber. It is capable of deploying both nuclear and conventional weaponry, including B61 bombs or AGM-129 ACM for atomic missions, and Mk 82 aerial bombs, CBU-97 cluster bombs, or AGM-154 JSOW for traditional strikes.

Defence Express has reported that, according to the Pentagon's annual force structure report, fixing this aircraft is economically unfeasible. The plan is to retire it in the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024 (FY 2025).

The specific model of the damaged aircraft, likely the one that made an emergency landing in December 2022 and was damaged by fire, hasn't been disclosed. With 20 B-2 bombers still in service, the focus is on modernizing the fleet. Although the repair of the damaged aircraft is deemed too expensive, Northrop Grumman was awarded $7 billion for the modernization and technical upkeep of these bombers. This indicates ongoing investment in the technology, even as development continues on the new sixth-generation B-21 Raider stealth bombers.