Syllabus:
GS 2: International Relations
GS 3: Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life.
Context:
Recently, the United States deployed its B-2 Spirit stealth bombers on Saturday to carry out precision airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
More on the News
- The United States of America targeted three nuclear facilities named Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan in Iran.
- President Donald Trump announced a mission that targeted three locations which he called the “crown jewel” of Iran’s nuclear program.
- The lead B-2 then dropped two GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs), also known as “bunker buster” bombs, on the nuclear site at Fordo.
B-2 Spirit Bombers
- The B-2 Spirit was developed by Northrop Grumman during the Cold War.
- US has produced around 21 units of the aircraft with each unit costing an estimated $2.1 billion.
- It is a highly advanced stealth bomber built for deep strikes in hostile airspace.
- With its bat-like shape and radar-absorbing materials, the B-2 is nearly invisible to radar—its signature likened to a small bird.
- A two-pilot crew operates it with high automation to cut workload and risk.
Key Features of B-2 Spirit Bombers
The B-2’s stealth, range, and payload make it ideal for striking heavily fortified, deeply buried targets.
The B-2 has a range of over 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km) without refuelling, enabling it to conduct long-range missions.
Its total payload exceeds 40,000 pounds (18,144 kg) and includes both conventional and nuclear weapons. It can deliver up to 16 B83 nuclear bombs as part of the US nuclear triad.
The bomber is flown by a crew of two, the pilot and the mission commander.
Its flying wing design and stealth features, low radar, infrared, acoustic, and electromagnetic signatures, make it extremely hard to detect, with a radar cross-section said to match a small bird.
In addition to the MOP, the B-2 can carry a range of conventional weapons. These include:
- JDAMs (Joint Direct Attack Munitions): GPS-guided bombs capable of striking fixed targets with high accuracy.
- JSOW (Joint Standoff Weapons): Glide bombs designed to engage targets from outside the range of enemy air defences.
- JASdSM and JASSM-ER (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles): Long-range cruise missiles, with the extended-range variant capable of striking from up to 500 miles (805 km) away.