The Most-Expensive American Bomber

B-2 Spirit is bomber aircraft with stealth technology and now become the U.S. Air Force mainstay for long-range operations. The B-2 Spirit is included as one of the strategic bomber has recognized his ability by the military.

The unique abilities, including its stealth characteristics, allow this bombers to penetrate enemy defenses once the most stringent, and with high precision can drop bombs on targets belonging opponent's vital. And the B-2 Spirit bomber permissibility has been shown in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan a few years ago.

The B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber is considered the most survivable aircraft ever built. (Picture from: http://campurb.blogspot.com/)

Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the U.S Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. The B-2 is a low-observable, strategic, long-range, heavy bomber capable of penetrating sophisticated and dense air-defence shields. This stealth aircraft is a blend of cruising furthest, greatest weapons payload capacity, and stealth technology that is unmatched by any military force. It is capable of all-altitude attack missions up to 50,000 ft, with a range of more than 6,000 nautical miles unrefuelled and over 10,000 nautical miles with one refuelling, giving it the ability to fly to any point in the world within hours. With a payload capacity of 20 tons of conventional and nuclear weapons and send them at the right weather conditions, B-2 has the ability to change the outcome of a conflict with just one bombing mission.

B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber cutaway. (Picture from: http://wallpoper.com/)

B-2 Spirit Bomber has been developed since 1978 under the ATB (Advanced Technology Bomber) program. The public knew this ATB program in 1981, then on November 22, 1988, public well aware the existence of this manufactured strategic Bomber Northrop Grumman's that then made its maiden flight on July 17, 1989.

The B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber cockpit is equipped with a colour, nine-tube, Electronic Flight Instrumentation System (EFIS). (Picture from: http://www.airforce-technology.com/)

As a strategic Bomber aircraft that is difficult to beat, B-2 Spirit certainly has a very high price, even a military aircraft with the most expensive price ever in the history of military aviation. According to TIME that the price of one unit of B-2 Spirit is U.S. $ .2.4 billion (or approx Rp. 23.28 trillion). Operational and maintenance costs no less expensive. For one hour flight, the aircraft requires maintenance for 124 hours.

The U.S. military initially planned to purchase 132 units of B-2 Spirit bomber. But collided with a very expensive price, only 21 units were realized to purchase. After the accident that befell on one B-2 Spirit at Andersen Air Base in Guam on 2008, the number of B-2 that strengthens the U.S. Air Force to 20 units. Currently 19 units of B-2 Spirit based at Whiteman Air Base. Meanwhile, one unit of B-2 Spirit is in Edward Air Base, California, for its software and weapons systems development. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | NORTHROP GRUMMAN | TIME | AIRFORCE-TECHNOLOGY ]

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