B-2, or the strength of the Spirit

polska-zbrojna.pl 3 weeks ago

Does president Donald Trump want the U.S. to have more B-2 bombers, although are investigating their successors – B-21? Made in stealth technology, hampering radar detection, B-2 Spirit bombers are considered the world's most costly military aircraft. The U.S. Ghost operational fleet is 19 machines, but it may increase to nearly 50 in the future, as president Donald Trump announced a fresh order for these bombers. This decision was affected by a successful mission to support Israel during last year's war with Iran, erstwhile B-2 attacked Iran's atomic facilities. However, there are many questions about the restoration of the production of the Spirits.

Last year in the California service center of Northrop Grumman, the B-2 Spirit of Georgia was completed. The bomber was repaired after the left main chassis was damaged during the landing in September 2021. Preliminaryly, the costs of the four-year renovation were estimated at over $10 million, but they yet amounted to nearly $24 million. Spirit of Georgia is the second of the Spirits to be restored to service after a major accident. The first was the Spirit of Washington, which was repaired after the fire in 2010.

However, the American Air Force lost 2 B-2 aircraft irretrievably. In 2008, in a disaster on Guam Island, the Spirit of Kansas was destroyed, and after an emergency landing at Whiteman Base, Missouri in 2022, the Spirit of Hawaii had to be withdrawn from service. These were highly painful losses for American strategical aviation, as between 1988 and 2000, only 21 out of 132 were created for the production of B-2 bombers. present the U.S. Ghost operating fleet has 19 machines.

However, it may be enlarged. On November 27, president Donald Trump, during a speech to military staff on Thanksgiving, reported that his administration had approved an order to supply fresh B-2 bombers. This decision was affected by these machines in attacks on Iranian atomic facilities in Fordo and Natanz on June 21, 2025. 7 Ghosts then dropped 14 GBU-57 ILO bombs (Massive Ordnance Penetrator), each weighing about 13.6 t. "With these beautiful B-2 bombers, atomic potential, Iran's atomic resources, was completely destroyed. We just ordered a lot more," said the president during the talks with the military. akin declarations were made a fewer weeks earlier. Speaking on October 13, in the Israeli parliament, Donald Trump stated that it was about ordering 28 fresh upgraded B-2 Spirit bombers. And 3 days later during his interview with journalists, he stated: "We just ordered about 20 fresh B-2 bombers".

However, it is worth reminding that Northrop Grumman has been working on a fresh generation of hard to detect B-21 Raider bombers for years. Tests in the air of the fresh device began in November 2023. American aviation is expected to receive at least a 100 B-21s to enter service if an urgent request arises, even this year.

RECLAMA

Trump's statements on the B-2 bombers were so rather surprising. American aviation experts indicate that the production of these bombers ended 25 years ago, making it virtually impossible to build fresh copies. The network of co-operators has disappeared, and many components and components created for this kind of aircraft are no longer produced. The modernisation of Northrop Grumman plants to recreate the B-2 production line after more than a 4th of a century would most likely be highly costly, especially for a short series of only 28 aircraft. Especially since the Pentagon budget is already charged with many urgent air programs, including F-15EX, F-35 and F-47 fighter jets, flying KC-46 tankers, and early informing aircraft.

Experts so have serious doubts as to whether there will be additional billions of dollars on the B-2, which so far is behind the most costly military aircraft in the world. Also, the Ghost exploitation compared to another bombers is complicated and expensive. They must be stored in specially air-conditioned hangars, as the coating providing low detection is delicate to atmospheric conditions. This means the request to build and keep specified installations not only in their Whiteman home base, but besides in the advanced operating bases. In addition to the costs, doubts besides concern their military usefulness in the future, as the construction of the B-2 is considered increasingly obsolete. The aircraft was developed in the 1980s, and since then both radar and stealth technologies have been importantly developed.

In view of all these difficulties and the “inaccuracy” of Donald Trump in his statements, questions arose as to whether the president of the United States actually meant to resume the production of the Spirit. any media propose that his message about the improved B-2 may have been in fact B-21. This bomber in many respects is an improvement in the plan of B-2. However, to reduce costs, it was designed somewhat smaller. any commentators so believe that more real than resuming production seems to be another modernization of those B-2s that Americans already have. Currently, their avionics, radar and coatings are being upgraded. Modernizations will extend the B-2 service time beyond the planned year 2032.

So, did the president of the United States slip over, talking about restoring B-2 production? It's hard to determine. It must be remembered that Donald Trump has already repeatedly expressed his preference for older, simpler, proven weapons systems and has no assurance in modern, complicated and increasingly costly weapons. Although the B-21 has been equipped with avionics and stealth technology, which are more advanced than in the B-2, it has weaker parameters than it regarding lifting and range. Trump may besides fear that in the case of B-21 there will be alleged childhood problems and the US needs strong strategical aviation in the face of possible confrontation with China. However, it takes a while to resolve these doubts.

Tadeusz Wróbel , “Polish Armed Forces” publicist

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