Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit – fotografie a videá

Komisia Northrop (neskôr Northrop Grumman) B-2 Spirit, tiež známy ako Stealth Bomber, je americký ťažký strategický bombardér s nízkou pozorovateľnou stealth technológiou určenou na preniknutie hustej protilietadlovej obrany. Navrhnutý počas studenej vojny, je to dizajn lietajúceho krídla s dvojčlennou posádkou. Bombardér je podzvukový a môže nasadiť konvenčné aj termonukleárne zbrane, ako napríklad až osemdesiat 500 libier (230 kg) Mk 82 JDAM navádzané GPS bomby alebo šestnásť 2 400 libier (1 100 kg) jadrových bômb B83. B-2 je jediné uznávané lietadlo, ktoré môže niesť veľké zbrane vzduch-zem v stealth konfigurácii.

Zdrojový: Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit na Wikipédii

Komisia Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a stealth bomber that can deliver both conventional and nuclear weapons to any target in the world. It has a unique flying wing design that reduces its radar signature and makes it hard to detect by enemy defenses. The B-2 was developed by Northrop Grumman in the 1980s and first flew in 1989. It entered service with the U.S. Air Force in 1997 and has been used in several conflicts, including Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.
The B-2 has a crew of two pilots and can carry up to 40,000 pounds (18,000 kg) of ordnance, including gravity bombs, guided bombs, cruise missiles and smart weapons. It can also carry two B83 nuclear bombs, each with a yield of 1.2 megatons. The B-2 has a range of over 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km) without refueling and can fly at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet (15,000 m). It has a maximum speed of Mach 0.95 (about 630 mph or 1,010 km/h).
The B-2 is one of the most advanced and expensive aircraft ever built. It cost about $2.1 billion per unit (in 1997 dollars) and requires a high level of maintenance and support. Only 21 B-2s were produced and they are based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. The B-2 is expected to remain in service until at least 2032, when it will be replaced by the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider, a new stealth bomber that is currently under development.