B-2 Spirit

"Stealth Bomber" redirects here. For Stealth aircraft in general, see Stealth aircraft.
B-2 Spirit

A USAF B-2 Spirit in flight.
Role
Stealth bomber
National origin
United States
Manufacturer
Northrop CorporationNorthrop Grumman
First flight
17 July 1989
Introduction
April 1997
Status
Active service: 20 aircraft
Primary user
United States Air Force
Number built
21[1][2]
Program cost
US$44.75 billion (projected through 2004)[3]
Unit cost
$737 million (1997 air vehicle cost per aircraft)[3]
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit (also known as the Stealth Bomber) is an American heavy bomber with "low observable" stealth technology designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses and deploy both conventional and nuclear weapons. Because of its considerable capital and operations costs, the project was controversial in Congress and among Pentagon brass. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Congress slashed initial plans to purchase 132 bombers to just 21.
The cost of each air vehicle averaged US$737 million in 1997 dollars.[3] Total procurement costs averaged US$929 million per aircraft, which includes spare parts, equipment, retrofitting, and software support.[3] The total program cost, which includes development, engineering and testing, averaged US$2.1 billion per aircraft (in 1997 dollars).[3]

Role
Stealth bomber
National origin
United States
Manufacturer
Northrop CorporationNorthrop Grumman
First flight
17 July 1989
Introduction
April 1997
Status
Active service: 20 aircraft
Primary user
United States Air Force
Number built
21[1][2]
Program cost
US$44.75 billion (projected through 2004)[3]
Unit cost
$737 million (1997 air vehicle cost per aircraft)[3]